Ben Affleck reveals why he was banned from Instagram twice

Ben Affleck has revealed that he was banned from Instagram twice for impersonating himself, explaining why he no longer uses social media.

In an interview with Variety published on October 7, the 54-year-old actor said he would make a “terrible influencer” and recalled having just six followers on the platform, including his three children and some of their friends.

“I got banned from Instagram twice for impersonating myself,” Affleck said. He added that his account was mainly an excuse to check his children’s social media accounts.

The actor shares three children, Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Affleck also explained why he prefers to keep his personal life private rather than maintain an active social media presence. He said that, in the past, people could speak and act without everything becoming part of a permanent public record.

Reflecting on his approach to fame, Affleck said he valued having experienced much of his life away from public scrutiny. He also argued that actors should maintain a certain distance from their audiences.

Citing actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis and Denzel Washington, he explained that seeing details of their everyday lives would not make him appreciate their films more.

Despite his reluctance to embrace social media, Affleck has recently appeared in TikTok videos with his Animals co-star Kerry Washington to promote their upcoming Netflix film.

In one video, Washington asks Affleck to make a TikTok, but he shakes his head and walks away. She later shared another promotional clip featuring a reference to the famous line “How do you like them apples?”

Animals, directed by Affleck and starring Washington, follows a mayoral candidate and his wife who resort to extreme measures to secure their kidnapped son's ransom. The film is scheduled to arrive on Netflix and in select cinemas on October 9, 2026.