Ah, social media — our collective blessing and curse. As we inch into 2025, I think it’s time we, as artists, take a different look at how we’re showing up online but, way more importantly, how we’re thinking about these platforms.
Let’s get this straight: stop blaming the platforms. Whether it’s Meta, X, TikTok, or the next shiny app that grabs everyone’s attention, these are just tools — pieces of technology. They don’t hate you, they don’t play favorites (not in the way you think anyway; celebs notwithstanding), and they don’t owe you a thing. They’re just the stage, if perhaps a convoluted one. But it's what we got.
If you’re struggling to showcase your art or make the connections you want, it’s not because the algorithm woke up and decided to ruin your day. It’s because of people— yes, people. Us. The tech is neutral; the culture surrounding it is what makes things messy.
But here’s the deal: you’re an artist. You’ve got work that deserves to be seen. Social media is not real life — never has been, never will be — but it’s there. Yes, it's (mostly) real people, but it's not "real" in any sense that supports human health.
It’s a tool to use, not something to obsess over. The moment you start taking it too seriously, letting likes or engagement dictate your worth, it starts eating away at your psyche. Stop letting it do that. It’s just pixels on a screen. That doesn’t mean it’s meaningless—it means it’s only as meaningful as you let it be.
Here’s my advice: showcase your art unapologetically. That’s why you’re on these platforms in the first place, right? To share what you create. To connect with people who resonate with it. To inspire and be inspired. So do that. And do it without hesitation or second-guessing. Through the noise, show your art, consistently, blindly, persistently (there’s that word you love).
After all, the absolute best way to fail at putting your art out there is to not put it out there at all.
Also, don’t be that person who shouts into the void with a chip on their shoulder. Nobody likes arrogance, pushiness or self deprecation. Be warm. Be passionate. Speak with conviction, but don’t mistake that for arrogance. You’re not here to demand attention — you’re here to offer something authentic. That’s how you connect, how you grow, how you thrive, and how you earn the attention.
So stop lamenting "the algorithm". I know we've all been conditioned to say "algorithm" despite most not understanding what the term even means in that context, and we've been conditioned to believe everything would be just dandy for us if we only could get "it" on our side. That's not just unrealistic; it's spectacularly obtuse.
Social media platforms are advertising revenue producing tech platforms – nothing more, nothing less. Don't expect that to change. Take it less personally, but also exploit it.
Stop treating social media like it’s out to get you. It’s here. It exists. For better or worse. And if you’re an artist, you’ve got one job on these platforms: show your art.