Obviously social media has had a massive impact on the fame

When Margot Robbie declared, “Obviously social media has had a massive impact on the fame game, but not in a positive way. But it can be for some,” she revealed the double-edged nature of a force that has reshaped human interaction in our age. Her words echo an ancient warning: that tools of power can elevate or destroy, depending on how they are wielded. Social media has brought immediacy, visibility, and connection, yet it has also brought distortion, envy, and the corrosion of authentic selfhood. Fame, once the pursuit of greatness, now risks becoming a shallow spectacle, dependent upon fleeting clicks rather than enduring deeds.

The ancients understood such paradoxes long before our digital age. The Greeks spoke of kleos—the glory that echoes beyond death. For Achilles, true fame was earned through valor, a legacy carved in blood and sacrifice. Yet even then, there were poets who warned of false glory, the kind that fades with the morning sun. Margot Robbie’s reflection belongs to this lineage: she recognizes that while social media offers a path to recognition, it often corrupts the very nature of fame, making it hollow and fragile.

History offers us many examples of this tension. Consider the tale of Marie Antoinette, whose image was manipulated through pamphlets and caricatures long before the word “media” had its modern form. She became both idol and villain in the public’s imagination, not for who she was, but for how she was portrayed. Like today’s celebrities on social media, her fame was shaped by forces beyond her control, carrying both fleeting admiration and destructive infamy. Robbie’s words remind us that technology has changed the scale, but not the essence, of this struggle.

Yet she also acknowledges the other side: “But it can be for some.” Here lies the recognition that even within a flawed system, opportunity can emerge. For some, social media is a platform of empowerment, giving voice to those once silenced, offering connection to those once isolated. It can amplify good, spread inspiration, and allow hidden talent to rise. Just as fire can burn or warm, so too can the digital stage destroy or elevate. The tool is neutral—the heart of its user determines its outcome.

At the heart of her teaching lies the call to discernment. To walk the path of fame in this era demands vigilance: to know when attention is genuine and when it is shallow, to recognize when recognition serves one’s purpose and when it corrupts it. Fame gained through spectacle may vanish in an instant; fame built on authenticity and integrity endures beyond the storm of trends. Her words are a reminder that the pursuit of fame must never eclipse the pursuit of truth.

The lesson is clear: treat social media as a servant, never a master. Use it to share goodness, to spread light, to uplift others, but resist the temptation to measure your worth by likes, followers, or fleeting applause. For these are false idols, promising joy but leaving only emptiness. Instead, anchor yourself in values, in craft, in the pursuit of excellence. Fame may come or go, but integrity remains eternal.

In practice, this means cultivating mindfulness in your digital life. Ask yourself before sharing: Does this reflect who I truly am? Does it build or does it diminish? Does it uplift or does it harm? Choose to follow those who inspire rather than those who provoke envy. Share what is meaningful, not what is designed merely to impress. In this way, you can ensure that your presence in the digital world becomes a positive force, rather than a hollow echo.

Therefore, let us take to heart Margot Robbie’s wisdom: social media has power, but it must be wielded with care. It can distort fame into vanity, but it can also uplift voices that carry truth. The choice lies in the hands of those who use it. Walk with discernment, root yourself in authenticity, and let your legacy be shaped not by shallow attention, but by deeds of substance that shine beyond the noise of the passing moment.