Why I’m Quitting Social Media
My White Flag
This is my surrender for social media.
For the past few years, I’ve tried to build multiple containers using social media to bridge me to where I wanted to go with my life. I’ve tried photography, writing, and life coaching (just to name a few) Which is disappointing because I believe that I have a raw talent for each of these arenas.
None of them have been able to hold together in the sea of trends and sameness. I can no longer use my precious energy in the attempt to make puzzle pieces fit to unlock the secret to building “my brand” (whatever the fuck that means) on social media.
I’ve simply given away the best parts of myself and my creativity, clamoring for an external validation when it needs to come from within. I need to apply my thoughts and talents elsewhere, towards a freedom that likes cannot provide me.
I will continue to create on my own terms. It won’t be easy to build the bridge, but I would rather use everything within me to reach people with raw creativity than polished turds for the sake of going viral.
Meta Problems
If you broke it down in the simplest terms - the large social media platforms have a massive amount of power over creatives* and businesses.
I see it as a dictatorship.
Social media companies dictate the how, what, when, and why of being creative. They have more pull than you think on how you run your business and how you operate as a creative/artist.
How often do we, as creatives and business owners, have to change how we utilize social media to reach more people?
How often do we have to change the frequency of posts?
How often do we have to change the times of day when we posts?
How often do we have to pivot to the latest trending audio or formatting of our content to get eyes on our products, services, and art?
All of this…
Hear me…
All of this is under the control of the social media platforms. They make the rules.
Not you, my dear creatives.
Micro-Documenting
With the dawn of social media, we’ve been trying to slice the beauty of our creativity into smaller, more digestible morsels for the sake of others.
My question is this -Are you robbing yourself of the fullness of what’s before you because you want to micro-document the beauty of your creativity for others?
Once upon a time, when I was a photographer, I used to micro-document everything. I had a photo for every scene that I came across, but as I really began to see the whole scene, examining all of the beauty before me, I stopped clicking the shutter so much. I stopped creating stories to show others in hopes of the external validation. Photographs starting to be just for me and I wanted them to last longer.
Really, any artist wants their creations to have some longevity beyond a daily expiration date.
On the other hand, social media creators/influencers have this understanding that the moment they micro-document, the photo they post, or the video they create will be buried in a noisy feed and move on to search for the next thing to micro-document.
They’re always in a position of chasing and producing quantity over quantity. Funny enough, there are social media gurus out there that will give you the format and the formula to create quick content, thereby perpetuating the chase of quantity over creative quality. At the same time, they will claim that “original content” is what people really want. And if that’s confusing to you, don’t worry… it is to me too.
Frankly, the chase for both, quantity and quality, will lead to burn out. It did for me and I’m starting to see it in others too.
Decades ago, before the dawn of cell phones or even the music video (god, I’m old) musicians would take years to put out music. They would be in the recording studio an extended amount of time.
Why? Because they wanted a sustainable quality. They wanted to honor their own creative process even if it took some time and the fans had to wait. Trusting that process made it worth the wait because a lot of those albums are good, start to finish.
I say all that for this reason - a true creator’s process and mindset can’t be rushed. Social media does not honor that part of you nor will it ever.
To me, it’s an unfair energy exchange.
Do You, Boo Boo
To the people who figured it out and make a living via social media. Good on you! Do it and do it big!
I’m not trying to start a revolution or mass exodus of social media, but I think as creatives, we have to reflect on our own creative health vs. feeding a machine.
My dear creatives, may you have a moment of self-reflection as well.
What parts of your own authentic creativity have you had to sacrifice for the uneven energy exchange of social media?
How would it feel to create for yourself first and not have to micro-document your creativity?
What other outlets could you showcase your creativity other than on social media?
If you’re struggling with this as well and are trying to create authentically to you, I’m here with you and I’m here for you. Don’t be shy to reach out.
xoxo,
Tolar
*Please understand in the true sense of creatives vs. social media creators. Social media creators are lip-syncing, choreographed dancing, unoriginal formatting, dime a dozen clones hoping for a viral sensation and a quick buck. They hold no real markings of creative depth. There… I said it.
