Ed Sheeran quits social media — for now

With 16 million Twitter followers and 5.5 million subscribers on Instagram, he is one of the most adored British celebrities on social media. But Ed Sheeran has decided to shun “seeing the world through a screen”, announcing he is quitting all social media until next autumn at least.

The singer broke the news on Instagram, but apparently will not be in a position to read the tens of thousands of comments: he claims that he is even giving up his phone.

Sheeran announced his withdrawal from social media at the end of a world tour promoting his second album, X, saying that although he was travelling the world, he wasn’t actually seeing it.

“I’m taking a break from my phone, emails and all social media for a while, I’ve had such an amazing ride over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes so I’m taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed.”

Even his family and friends won’t be hearing from him, “if you love me you will understand me buggering off for a bit”.

He was careful to stress that this is a pause, not an end, to his showbiz career, saying: “The third album is on its way and is the best thing I have made this far.”

Born in West Yorkshire in 1991 and brought up in Suffolk, Sheeran built his career on social media. He released his first recordings independently, then in 2011 scored multi-platinum sales for his first album, +, won the Ivor Novello best song award for the single The A Team, Brits for best male solo artist and best breakthrough artist in 2012, and this year another Ivor Novello and Brit for the second album.

In case anyone meets the red head sitting in a cafe not looking at a smartphone screen, let him know that lowla8, and many, many others, pleaded: “Take me with you”.