'Instagram selfies are crazy out of control': Amy Poehler lambasts social media trend and says she 'hates' looking at pictures of herself

By Eleanor Gower

PUBLISHED: 21:29 EST, 9 December 2013 | UPDATED: 21:58 EST, 9 December 2013


Anti social network: Amy Poehler, pictured last week, has said Instagramming selfies is 'out of control'

Anti social network: Amy Poehler, pictured last week, has said Instagramming selfies is 'out of control'

Hardly an hour goes by nowadays where a social-network savvy celebrity isn't posting a pouting posed-up 'selfie' of themselves via their Instagram or Twitter pages.

But Amy Poehler is one star who's refusing to join the trend.

The Parks & Recreation actress thinks the fashion for oversharing mundane events or voyeuristic snapshots is 'out of control.'

'The amount of Instagram selfies seems crazy out-of-control,' Amy tells Papermag.com. 'The idea of, "This is my face and everyone needs to see it all the time," is so far from the privacy that people used to seek.

'Now everyone acts the way ’80s performance artists used to act. Everybody's [American performance artist] Karen Finley. Everybody’s like, "I'm gonna put s*** all over me and take pictures!"

The 42-year-old actress muses on the recent explosion of experiencing life vicariously through photographs posed on social networks as opposed to living for the moment in reality.

'When I was a kid, you'd go to a party or a punk rock show and you'd have fun, and you'd bring a camera, and you'd take pictures, and those pictures would stay inside the camera,' she says.

'Pictures were an addition to the experience. Now the picture is the experience. If I'm hanging out with a friend, and they take a picture of me, it's like "Ugh." I mean, I hate looking at pictures of myself. It immediately takes me out of the experience.'

Despite not being a fan of social media, Amy has embraced some aspects of the Internet, having founded the Smart Girls web series which focuses on inspiring women.

'I'm not a real social-media person. I'm not on Twitter,' she says. 'I try not to read too much online because I always get my feelings hurt, even if someone's flattering you.

'Like somebody tweeting, "Call me crazy, but I think Amy Poehler's attractive." And you're like, "OK? Thank you?" Or like someone writing, "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I'd have sex with Amy Poehler."'

Naturally, Amy admits concern when quizzed by the magazine if she worries about her sons Archie, five and three-year-old Abel growing up in the social media age.

'Yes!" she declares. 'I'm terrified!'

Not a fan: Amy appeared on Heidi Klum's selfie Instagram back in September

Not a fan: Amy appeared on Heidi Klum's selfie Instagram back in September

Amy's opinions follow comments made by her friend and Golden Globes co-host Tina Fey who earlier this year admitted she does not have a Twitter account, declaring social networks to be 'f******* boring.'

She told TV Guide: 'Here's what I think about Twitter. I think that you should have to get a license to use Twitter because most people are so f****ng boring that they should shut up. I am volunteering to be in charge of the licenses.

'Why do you have to be like "Hey girl, I loved your outfit yesterday." Just contact that person! You're wasting the internets or something. It's gonna hurt the ozone, I dunno, it's so boring,' she added.

Social network opposition: Amy and her friend and Golden Globes co-presenter have both spoken out against Twitter

Social network opposition: Amy and her friend and Golden Globes co-presenter have both spoken out against Twitter

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My personal theory is that constant instagramming-whatnot is for people who are, really quite boring and have nothing to say but want attention. People like Amy and Tina however, who are hilarious, smart and successful don't need to resort to this.

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At least one celeb has their head screwed on correctly. Well done Amy.

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i would give her something to smile about. yeah, that's right ;)

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Well, Amy, you're not the only who doesn't enjoy looking at pictures of YOU! Not many bigger "hey, LOOK AT ME" celebs than Amy! Hypocrite fool!

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I've no idea who she is, but she's really rather attractive.

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Finally someone who speaks sense! I'm tired of looking selfies after selfies - ridiculous! I used to take them myself too, and feel beyond embarrassed about them now! It's just a phenomena that should end soon. They make people look ridiculous and narcissistic.

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I think Amy is adorable.

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So right. And Tina Fey too, funny funny comments.

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She's absolutely spot on IMO, although the one good thing to come out of the horrible 'social networking' thing is that now it's obvious to normal people who the complete narcissists are!

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Couldn't agree more. I'm still trying to figure out what has to go wrong in someones brain to make them take out their phone and put it in front of THEMSELVES and smile to THEMSELVES like an insane person, just to find out how many people like what they see. I mean can they not see how stupid they look? What has to go wrong in someones life to make them feel the need to do that, and why are they so needy of affirmation from people, who are most likely doing the same thing they are doing. People can be so strange.

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I imagine Amy would be a real hoot to get drunk with

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