Kelsea Ballerini Reveals Why She Quit Twitter and Reddit After a ‘Toxic Phase’

On Kelsea Ballerini‘s most recent album, Patterns, she explored and considered various behavior patterns in her life, with the music on the project detailing her journey in adjusting or breaking those patterns when needed.

In an interview with People, Ballerini spoke up about another pattern in her life that needed breaking- -namely, her relationship with social media. In a recent concert, she was open in telling fans that she would still regularly read comments that were posted about her online, but she’s had to make changes in how she approaches certain online platforms.

“I got rid of Twitter a long time ago. That was helpful. Twitter kicked my ass,” Ballerini told the outlet. “I discovered Reddit. I went through a very toxic phase with that, but it was when my life was a bit chaotic. Then I was like, ‘We need to have some boundaries.’ So that’s no longer.”

These days, she says she primarily gravitates toward Instagram and TikTok. “Even that feels like too much, but I’m not sure how to not because I’m a people pleaser, and I like the feedback,” she noted. “I think my intention is because I like feedback and I like to edit set lists, or we’re tweaking things on the tour because I’m seeing stuff on TikTok. But yeah, I’m a girl. I’m sensitive. I’m an artist. If I see a mean comment, it affects me.”

Ballerini has been transparent about the benefits of therapy, and has said working with a therapist helped her work toward overcoming her tendency to be a people-pleaser. “My therapist told me a while ago, ‘Kelsea, you need to care more about less,'” Ballerini said, adding that she’s less emotionally impacted by mean-spirited online comments than she used to be. “Although I still care about that feedback, I don’t give it the gravity that I used to.”

She says doing the hard work to sustain emotional and mental health also involves accepting both the positive and not-so-positive aspects of oneself.

“I’m very aware of my flaws. I have a relationship with them, and I do the work to keep growing up and growing out of certain things,” she said. “But in the same breath, I fully accept and celebrate myself right now. I don’t think I’ve ever been truly able to before because I had to go through life. You have to learn yourself before you love yourself — and I had learning to do.”

That personal growth has also led to career growth, with Patterns becoming her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart last year, while her Kelsea Ballerini Live on Tour 2025 tour has been selling out arenas across the country. She also just notched her first ACM entertainer of the year nomination ahead of the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8.