Angelina Jolie joined Instagram over the weekend and quickly became the fastest user on the social app to reach one million followers. The Hollywood actress joined the platform on August 20 to share a heartbreaking and impactful post of a letter from a teenage girl in Afghanistan, giving followers an insight into how the current political issues are affecting the people who are now facing Taliban rule.
Jolie reportedly gained 2.1 million new followers in unde three hours, beating David Attenborough’s four hours 44 minutes and Ruper Grint’s four hours, one minute. At the time of publishing, Jolie now has 7.5 million followers. In her first post on Instagram she wrote, “This is a letter I was sent from a teenage girl in Afghanistan. Right now, the people of Afghanistan are losing their ability to communicate on social media and to express themselves freely. So I’ve come on Instagram to share their stories and the voices of those across the globe who are fighting for their basic human rights.”
She continues to share her story stating, “I was on the border of Afghanistan two weeks before 9/11, where I met Afghan refugees who had fled the Taliban. This was twenty years ago. It is sickening to watch Afghans being displaced yet again out of the fear and uncertainty that has gripped their country. To spend so much time and money, to have blood shed and lives lost only to come to this, is a failure almost impossible to understand.” She ends the post with a call to action to help those in Afghanistan, “Like others who are committed, I will not turn away. I will continue to look for ways to help. And I hope you’ll join me.”
The comment section of the post saw many welcoming Jolie to Instagram and thanking her for spreading awareness on the social platform. British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enniful commented, “Thank you for using your platform for good,” while the Amnesty organization said, “Important. Thank you Angelina.” The UN Refugee Agency also wrote, “Welcome to Instagram Special Envoy – your voice and those who join you are needed now more than ever.”
