Whenever I think about Jennifer Aniston’s understanding of “new media,” the internet, social media platforms and the like, I always think back to what John Mayer said about Jennifer in his now-infamous Playboy interview, which took place after they had broken up for good. When describing the differences between himself and Aniston and whether social media played a part, he said:

“If Jennifer Aniston knows how to use BitTorrent, I’ll eat my f–king shoe. One of the most significant differences between us was that I was tweeting. There was a rumor that I had been dumped because I was tweeting too much. That wasn’t it, but that was a big difference. The brunt of her success came before TMZ and Twitter. I think she’s still hoping it goes back to 1998. She saw my involvement in technology as courting distraction. And I always said, ‘These are the new rules.'”

[From Playboy]

“I think she’s still hoping it goes back to 1998.” That’s what I always think regarding Jen too. Her primary focus is on old-media and she still announces all of her big milestones with press releases to People Magazine. Anyway, I bring this all up because Jennifer has some new quotes and she’s talking about the internet:

The 45-year-old actress admits she has become so afraid of public criticism, particularly on the internet, that she and her actor fiancé Justin Theroux have turned into social hermits who prefer to stay at home.

“You do the best you can but it feels like it’s getting worse and very nasty because of bullying on the internet,” says the Friends star. “Even movie critics don’t just comment on the film, they tear people apart on a human level. I don’t know why that is happening but it is…we just stay home so there really isn’t anything to report.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom for multimillionaire Jennifer. Earlier this month she jetted off to the Tahitian island of Bora Bora with Justin for a romantic holiday to celebrate his 43rd birthday and mark the two-year anniversary of their engagement.

Jennifer has also landed an extremely lucrative deal as the face of Aveeno hair care and continues to attract top film roles. She is set to star in movie Life Of Crime in September and is also scheduled to attend the Toronto Film Festival for the premiere of another of her films Cake. Another comedy, She’s Funny That Way, which reunites her with her Marley & Me co-star Owen Wilson, will also debut in Venice.

[From Express]

Is it a good idea to bash “the internet” when she has so much to shill these days? Three new movies, plus Aveeno, SmartWater and Living Proof? The internet could have been her ally if only she would stop seeing herself as the perpetual victim? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve often thought that we could easily get 200-plus comments, with vicious back-and-forth, both for and against, if we merely posted a photo of Jennifer and like three words of commentary. But you know who else inspires that kind of passionate response? Angelina Jolie. And you never hear Angelina complaining about “the internet.” And for that matter, you never hear Angelina complain about being publicly “bullied” by Aniston’s BFF Chelsea Handler.

Photos courtesy of WENN.