Chris Brown Tries To Keep His 'Sanity' On Social Networks

Social media can be both a gift and a curse for pop artists, and while Chris Brown has received many gifts, Breezy's digital self has hit many a bumpy road — most notably with his Twitter account.

In 2009 he deleted his @mechanicaldummy account after he ranted against the music industry claiming he was blackballed in the aftermath of his assault on Rihanna. Then in 2011 he and Frank Ocean volleyed shots back and forth. And who could forget his foulmouthed Twitter tango with comedian and TV producer Jenny Johnson?

Despite all of the past digital drama, there is something about his 12.3 million Twitter followers that keep bringing Brown back. "With me, it's just that everything I say is looked at under a microscope, so I gotta kinda pull back sometimes even if I wanna be funny, if I'm joking or if I'm just being myself," he told of his outlook on his social networking presence.

"I think if I'm promoting my album or showing people my artwork or showing them the positive stuff that I'm doing, that's all that's necessary," Brown continued. "I think my personal life is pretty much an open book as it is now, but I try to keep some sanity to who I am so I try to stay off of it as much as possible."

It's not just Twitter though. In January, Breezy chose to make his Instagram account private. "Social media takes away the essence of why we are even special or icons," Brown wrote on the picture-sharing network. "So with that, I'm detaching myself from that world."

Days before he privatized the Instagram account, Brown posted a drawing of Jesus Christ on a cross with the caption "Painting the way I feel today. Focus on what matters!"

On Monday, Breezy released "Fine China," the first single from his forthcoming album X, and he has been doing a ton of media interviews in support of it. For the most part, his Twitter feed has been strictly promotional, tweeting and retweeting anything that has to do with his single, its video and his upcoming album. It's his way of pulling back and avoiding the scrutiny that he often comes under.

"I give 'em what they need and not what they want," he said.

Should Chris Brown use social networking for promotion only? Tell us what you think in the comments.