Zendaya has officially turned 30, but while millions of fans can still find her online, her mum Claire Stoermer says the actress is no longer on social media. The surprising revelation came in a sweet birthday tribute, even though Zendaya's official Instagram account also appeared to mark the milestone.
For someone who has grown up in the public eye, the apparent step back from social media is striking. Zendaya celebrated her 30th birthday on 1 September with a childhood photograph and a grateful message, giving fans a glimpse of the quieter side of her life.
Zendaya Welcomes 30 With a Childhood Throwback
The actress marked the end of her twenties with a nostalgic photograph of herself as a young girl, wearing pigtails, a pink vest top and purple plaid trousers. She paired the throwback with a heartfelt message thanking fans for making her final year in her twenties special.
'I can't thank ya'll enough for making the last year of my twenties so beautiful,' she wrote, adding that she had plenty to be grateful for and much to look forward to before signing off with 'here's to 30!!!!!'. The post immediately gave fans plenty to celebrate, with comments ranging from 'thirty, flirty, and thriving' to one admirer declaring her 'rich and a wifey right before 30'.
Her Mum Says She's Off Social Media
Claire Stoermer added another twist to the birthday celebrations with her own Instagram tribute. Sharing an adorable photograph of a much younger Zendaya in a floral dress, the proud mum suggested her daughter would not even see the post.
'Happy 30th birthday to the love and light of my life!! Even tho you're not on socials anymore, and you won't see this!!' Stoermer wrote. The 62-year-old then revealed that the two had just spoken on FaceTime, making the message especially sweet. So while Zendaya may not be scrolling through Instagram herself, Claire had already spoken to her directly on FaceTime.
Her Official Instagram Account Still Posted
There is a curious wrinkle, however. Zendaya's official Instagram account did publish a birthday message, despite her mum saying she is no longer on social media.
That does not necessarily mean Zendaya herself was sitting behind the account. The existence of the post does not necessarily mean Zendaya personally uploaded it, however, and there is no public confirmation of who posted it.
Her previous Instagram post came on 8 July, when she shared the trailer for Dune: Part Three. Her limited recent posting is consistent with her mum's suggestion that she has stepped back from social media.
Zendaya Has Stepped Back From Instagram
This is not entirely out of character for the actress. During a 2024 Vogue interview with Serena Williams, Zendaya discussed taking a break from Instagram because being on the platform had left her feeling 'very unhappy and anxious'.
That makes her mum's latest comment particularly telling. Rather than disappearing from the public eye altogether, her mum's comment suggests that Zendaya may be maintaining a greater separation between her public career and her personal online life.
30 Arrives During a Huge Year for Zendaya
Turning 30 comes after an exceptionally busy period for the actress. She returned as Rue Bennett for the third and final season of Euphoria, while also starring in The Drama and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, where she plays Athena.
She has also returned as MJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, opposite Tom Holland, who himself turned 30 on 1 June. Zendaya is also set to reprise her role as Chani in Dune: Part Three, keeping her firmly at the centre of Hollywood's biggest productions.
Her 30th Marks a Quieter Chapter
Zendaya's milestone arrives at a fascinating point in her career. She has millions of followers, major films on the horizon and remains one of Hollywood's most recognisable young stars, yet her mum's message suggests she may be choosing to experience much of it away from the social media spotlight.
For fans, that only adds another layer to her 30th birthday. While the internet celebrated her milestone with throwbacks, compliments and 'thirty, flirty, and thriving' messages, Zendaya herself may be perfectly happy to watch it all from a distance.
