“I just think people have now gotten in a habit of trading in connection or the potential connection next to them for controllable connections all over the world,” Basso told Fox News Digital at the Tribeca Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n ROBERT DOWNEY JR. SLAMS MODERN CELEBRITY CULTURE AS ‘ABSOLUTE HORSES—‘<\/a><\/p>\n Gabriel Basso attends the “Iconoclast” premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at Village East Cinema in New York City. (Cindy Ord\/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)<\/p>\n “And I think it’s a sort of illusion that we’re all growing closer.”<\/p>\n In “Iconoclast,” Basso plays Connor, a lonely young man whose fixation on a live-streaming influencer<\/a> spirals into something far darker. The story taps into a growing cultural obsession with parasocial relationships, online validation and influencer worship.<\/p>\n And according to Basso, the problem runs deeper than people realize.<\/p>\n “I have a bunch of problems with social media, but that I think is the sort of foundation of, like, you don’t get to control relationships. And in real life it’s impossible because it’s a real human being.”<\/p>\n WATCH: \u2018ICONOCLAST\u2019 STAR GABRIEL BASSO WARNS SOCIAL MEDIA CREATES \u2018ILLUSION\u2019 OF CONNECTION<\/p>\n The actor argued that social media creates the illusion of intimacy while removing the unpredictability that comes with genuine human connection.<\/p>\n “But I used the analogy earlier \u2014 it’s like from \u2018Beauty and the Beast\u2019 when the Beast is like, ‘Show me Belle,’ and he pulls up a photo of Belle\u2026 it’s magic, but he can see her\u2026 that feels like an invasive thing,” he continued.<\/p>\n LIKE WHAT YOU\u2019RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n Gabriel Basso wrote, directed and stars in “Iconoclast,” a psychological thriller exploring online obsession, influencer culture and isolation. (Alessandro Levati\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Basso compared modern social platforms to a window into someone’s life \u2014 one that allows users to observe others without any real relationship or interaction taking place.<\/p>\n “I think now social media has turned into a glimpse into someone’s life and the energy isn’t reciprocal\u2026 you feel sort of like a voyeur. It’s weird.”<\/p>\n Basso, best known for leading Netflix’s global hit “The Night Agent,” makes an ambitious leap behind the camera with “Iconoclast.”<\/p>\n MAYA HAWKE CLAIMS SOME PRODUCERS CAST ACTORS BASED ON THEIR NUMBERS OF INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS<\/a><\/p>\n “The Night Agent” star Gabriel Basso says social media creates an illusion of intimacy and urges young people to stop building personal brands online. (Gilbert Flores\/Variety)<\/p>\n The psychological thriller slowly builds tension before evolving into something more unsettling, anchored by Basso’s performance as a man consumed by an unhealthy fixation.<\/p>\n Basso’s advice for young people feeling pressured to build a personal brand online<\/a> was far less nuanced.<\/p>\n “Stop,” he said.<\/p>\n The actor argued that social media’s power exists largely because people collectively agree to give it value.<\/p>\n “It’s like that whole breaking the cycles of trauma thing\u2026 Or like our currency, it’s only valuable because we all have agreed it is. It just takes enough people to say this is not valuable, and it won’t be.”<\/p>\n WATCH: \u2018ICONOCLAST\u2019 STAR RAIN SPENCER MARVELS AT GABRIEL BASSO’S TRIPLE-DUTY ROLE IN FILM<\/p>\n Basso added that many users already know social media isn’t making them happier.<\/p>\n “And I think a lot of people online are aware that intrinsically they’re miserable. Or like within social media, you’re not actually connecting to people and I think they just can’t let themselves stop. And if they just stop, it’s over. And it can’t come get you\u2026 just put the phone down, you know? Delete it.”<\/p>\n The film also stars Rain Spencer, who praised Basso’s ability to balance multiple responsibilities on set.<\/p>\n![\"Gabriel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gabriel-basso-tribeca-festival-fox-news-001.jpeg\")
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