- Does looking at social media make you feel depressed, angry or anxious?
- Do you equate your self-worth with how many likes you get on a post?
- Do you feel like social media is necessary to facilitate your relationships?
- Do you log in to social media, even though you know there is nothing new to see?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, then it may be time to step back and re-evaluate your relationship with social media. This kind of behavior is not healthy, and it’s certainly not productive.
That’s why a growing movement of artists are saying NO to social media giants. These companies misuse our work, violate our privacy and profit from those who seek to manipulate society.
The time has come to kick social media to the curb. I’ll help you get started.
I erased Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and I’m still thriving. You can do it too! (It’s the least we can do for the survival of our species.)
B-B-BUT I NEED SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MY BUSINESS
I’ve heard that excuse too. (In fact I think it was me that said it.) As an artist, I get that we have to use the internet to some degree. (I’m obviously not quitting YouTube any time soon.)
Using social media to share your art is one thing, but wasting your time looking at other people’s photos and posts does nothing to advance you as an artist. I’m not saying “don’t use social media“, I’m saying “use social media responsibly“.
At the end of the day, do you really want your brand to be associated with these companies and their shady business practices? If so, why? Is it because everyone has a Facebook page for their business? Alpo can afford to have a Facebook page because they have an advertising budge with a lot of zeros in it. They aren’t making ends meet by posting pictures of happy dogs, they are out there on the streets slinging chow for pooches.
Let me give it to you straight: You don’t need a Facebook page to run your art business. Set up a real website, why don’t ya!
“Why don’t we just create our own blogs and share them with each other? Isn’t that really all Facebook is doing?”
Here’s an idea: Why don’t we just create our own blogs and share them with each other? Isn’t that really all Facebook is doing? — It serves photos and text to people who subscribe to each other.
I’m blogging right now and it feels so much better knowing that this post isn’t going to be attached to some sort of scuzzy plot to make money. [Check out my new Corel Painter Course – Pre Order Now!]
OK, LET’S DO THIS!!!
Deleting Facebook is relatively easy. You can download a package of all of your artwork, photos and other content like comments, so you won’t lose any of those precious drunk posts.
Here’s how to deactivate Twitter. (Insert cartoon bird squawk)
And finally, the hardest one is going to be deleting Instagram. I recommend you rip it off quickly. It will hurt a lot at first, but the pain will subside.
- Make sure to also delete these apps off of your phone so they can no longer track and sell everything you do online.
NEXT STEPS
Now that you’re free of social media, you may begin to notice changes in your life:
- Your body may begin to feel slightly different. Over the course of a few weeks, your brain may begin to regenerate and you may find that you feel better both mentally and physically.
- Be prepared to fill your free time with something else. — Make art, learn a new language, take vibraphone lessons.
- You’ll need to maintain relationships without all of those fancy Facebook features. Why not follow each other’s blog? Or there’s video chat, e-mail, texting, and hand-written letters.
- At first, it may feel difficult to resist the urge to reactivate your accounts. Just hang in there!
- If you’re still trying to add hashtags to things, that’s perfectly normal. That should clear up on its own, but if it does not, consult with your doctor.