Jack O'Connell has quietly established his boundaries around social media, as he continues to cultivate aura points by delivering back-to-back movie-stealing performances from 28 Years Later to Sinners. However, the fascinating actor's stark absence from Instagram has been a constant question among his followers. 

The Skins star has finally revealed why he always remains off the grid. In the contemporary digital age, Jack O'Connell's choice of a purposely offline lifestyle reflects an old-school sensibility that promotes life beyond the screen. 

Unlike most of his contemporaries, the actor would rather curate his real-life hobbies than his feed.

Jack O’Connell recently appeared on Fox 5’s Good Day New York couch to promote 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, after which anchor Rosanna Scotto asked him why he was not on Instagram despite his monumental fame. The actor shut the show down with the loudest yet most down-to-earth reason: gardening.

"No spare time. I've got a garden to tend to," quoth O’Connell when Scotto pressed the iconic actor for an explanation over his absence from Instagram.

The actor removed all his social media accounts about a decade ago, including Instagram, following the advice of his Money Monster co-star George Clooney, who advocated moving away from the blinding glare of followers and hashtags, per The Guardian. For O’Connell, social media always bordered on vanity; by its nature, it took the life out of the art, so he chose real-life instead. 

O'Connell, instead of being preoccupied with likes and feeds, prefers activities such as gardening and savoring tranquil daily moments, therefore loudly rejecting the glamorous side of the Hollywood lifestyle through his down-to-earth living. Perhaps that is precisely why he has all the time in the world to keep his slate incredibly booked and busy for the next few years.

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Jack O'Connell might be off Instagram, but he is definitely not off the silver screen. Not anytime soon.

Jack O'Connell begins 2026 with the horror sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is a part of the 28 Days Later universe. The world is waiting for the movie with bated breath as it nears its January 16, 2026, release. O'Connell will be playing an eerie antagonist, Sir Jimmy Crystal, in a post-apocalyptic Britain that is infected by the Rage Virus, along with Ralph Fiennes and Alfie Williams.

Up next, the actor is also participating in a significant Monsterverse sequel with Kaitlyn Dever and Dan Stevens, directed by Grant Sputore. His appearance in 2027's Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will further strengthen his hold in the arena of big-budget franchises. 

O'Connell is also in negotiation with Danny Boyle for Ink, a historical film about the newspaper industry focusing on the rise of The Sun. His role is likely to be that of editor Larry Lamb, witnessing the disruptive revolution of British journalism.

Meanwhile, the actor is also a fan-favorite pick to become the next James Bond. With a slate full, who would have time to chase likes, much like Jack O'Connell, who goes back to the roots over reels. 

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What are your thoughts on Jack O'Connell's reasoning for avoiding social media? Let us know in the comments below.