Social Media: A Tool and A Torment
Social media is a constantly available form of entertainment, a way to connect yourself to the rest of the world, and it's dangerously addictive. This however, is not ground breaking news. Since the birth of MySpace in 2003, followed shortly after by Facebook in 2004, there has been a whirlwind of controversy around social media and whether or not it is doing more harm than good. Regardless of what each article or podcast says, the vast majority of us still use it daily.
What has changed is how each individual uses it. Instagram and TikTok allow one user to create up to five different accounts that can all be easily accessed without having to log out. For the brand owner or creative this is an extremely useful addition that gives them the freedom to separate their personal life from their work - at least online. In real life it is almost never that easy, as a person’s creative habits and personal life are deeply intertwined. Creatives are already known for being attached to their work as it is truly an extension of themselves. When a creative starts to share that work on social media platforms they’re not only exposing themselves, but also the work which consumes most of their time and thought.
In some cases this is an instrumental tool for success as some art gets put out to thousands of other users thanks to the algorithm and sheer luck. A con for all artists who attempt to use social media as a tool is the high demand for new content. Producing a gown or a painting is not quite the same as an influencer's daily photo shoot and edits. Art takes time and artists need breaks. Social media has conditioned society to expect instant gratification from anyone they give their money or attention to, but this isn’t a long term capability for the artist. Some post new work a few times a week and some only a few times a year, but if this doesn’t satisfy their following or keep them relevant to the ever evolving (or devolving) algorithms, the artist starts to fall to the wayside.
For the art and artist whom the algorithm doesn’t favor or whose success and following drastically changes after a few weeks of not posting - social media starts to feel like an echo chamber. Despite how captivating the art or how much content the artist returns to posting, it starts to feel like screaming into a void. The art is getting out there, but is it reaching anyone? This is when social media becomes a torment and a tool against the growth of the creative.
If your feed has a creative or artist you admire who occasionally pops up, or if you know you follow one and haven’t seen them on your feed in a while - check them out. Take a few minutes out of your scrolling and go through their recent works, comment, reshare something, maybe even check out their site. Support the artists you know. We all need it.
