Justin Bieber has deleted his Instagram account. Social media will never be the same.

(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

He's gone offline

Justin Bieber has deleted his Instagram account. He has gone offline in a considered bid to lead a more low-key life, out of the spotlight. Justin Bieber: Off The Grid will be his next album.

Whilst the above is not entirely accurate, Justin has deleted his account, but the reason is slightly different and part of a lengthy narrative that is so achingly millennial we can barely cope.

This morning, the singer deleted his Instagram account after fans abused his girlfriend on the social media site. His girlfriend being Sofia Richie, Nicole Richie's half-sister and Lionel Richie's daughter (great lineage).

Prior to ‘Deletion’, Selena Gomez - Bieber’s ex girlfriend - traded insults with the singer over Instagram and it went a little something like this.

JB: ‘I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand.’ Don’t say he didn’t warn you.

JB: ‘If you guys are really fans you wouldn't be so mean to people that I like.’

SG: ‘If you can't handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol - it should be special between you two only.

‘Don't be mad at your fans. They love you and supported you before any one ever did.’

JB: ‘It's funny to see people that used me for attention and still try to point the finger this way.

‘Sad. All love.’

JB: ‘I'm not one for anyone receiving hate. Hope u all can be kind to my friends and each other. And yes I love my Believers.’ (In case you're not sure if you are a true fan or not, here are the telltale signs you're actually a secret Belieber.)

SB: ‘Funny how the ones that cheated multiple times, are pointing the finger at the ones that were forgiving and supportive, no wonder fans are mad. Sad. All love.’

Bye Justin. We hope you and you’re abstract pictures and Instagram Stories will be back soon.

*Update*

Selena has had some time to think about the ‘episode’ and has had a change of heart.

‘What I said was selfish and pointless,’ read Selena’s Snapchat message, written in text against a black background. Sombre, yet a very efficient method of communication.

Will this be enough to get Justin Bieber to reinstate his account? We don’t know. We’re not psychic.

Holly Rains is the digital editor of Marie Claire UK. She has over 10 years journalism experience, working as an editor and writer, specialising in digital media, content strategy and dog breeds. Prior to Marie Claire, she has held senior staff positions at ELLE UK, Grazia and Company magazine.

Holly is a frequent speaker, panelist and interviewer on a range of subjects including media trends, careers and entertainment. From working with Reuters to provide global red carpet coverage for events like the BAFTAs, to discussing fashion and beauty trends on network TV, she was also the host of the Marie Claire series ‘Holly’s First Dates’, where she regularly interviewed a mix of inspiring woman and A-list celebrities (including Jack Black, Dakota Fanning and Renée Zellweger) - a series which garnered half a million views in its first two months. And was approved by The Rock.

Her love of office-based meetings means that the days of discovering the melting point of Cadbury's Flakes are long gone, but when she isn't dreaming of scheduling in meetings, she likes to think about social media, and how best to avoid it whilst still retaining the title of 'digital' editor. She also likes learning about emerging technology, Influencers and how to become a Financially Responsible Adult.

Contact Holly: holly.rains@futurenet.com