Kori Barnes 
“Keep everything you love private.”
This is a statement that I’ve continuously seen circle around social media regarding privacy vs the public eye. In retrospect, this applies to every relationship or friendship dynamic with everyone’s personal preference or perspective on how much they want to share with the world. Since the rise and evolution of social media, the entire world can essentially be accessed at the reach of anyone’s fingertips. However, this can cause just as many negative outcomes as positive benefits. One of the industry’s beloved superstars has provided more insight on a personal level regarding her transition from childhood star to grown adult as she’s navigating her love life with a balance of privacy in the public eye.
Zendaya has recently spoken out regarding her relationship with A-list actor Tom Holland and how they maintain a level of privacy within their union that they’re comfortable with. According to latimes.com, “ … she accepts that some aspects of her life ‘are going to be public’ no matter what. ‘I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love,’ she said. ‘But also, I do have control over what I choose to share. It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You can’t hide. That’s not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”
Personally, I resonate with her perspective more than ever since I’ve matured throughout the years with my relationship. It’s about finding the perfect balance that works between both you and your partner, and remembering that you don’t need anyone else’s approval.
After I went through the phase of publicly posting my first relationship through high school, I outgrew the aspect of sharing everything. Now that I’ve matured and I’m with the person that I see myself marrying, I realize that I want to keep everything that I love as close to myself as possible. This, however, doesn’t mean that I won’t share certain things with the public regarding my relationship if I want. But that’s the point, it’s my choice. I’ve even begun to further cut down on my inner circle as to who deserves that special access to my life. Although there are numerous people that may agree or disagree with my perspective, I’m similar to Zendaya’s newfound mindset of not having anything to prove.
Privacy in this new age of social media and technology is sacred, but everyone should be allowed to practice their own beliefs and values. Never let anyone make you feel differently. Zendaya and Tom Holland are two of the biggest superstars in the industry and have a very high profile relationship, but they keep their intimate life private and seem happier than ever. They claim each other, but maintain their boundaries. They must be doing something right.
By Kori Barnes, University of Southern California
Instagram: @korixnicole
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