The whys:

To get more work done.

To stop comparing myself to others.

The Algorithm’s

To not be run by the algorithms. To summarise paragraphs of ranting: The algorithms are designed to make money from users attention. Making money for shareholders in the short term is their absolute priority and every decision made is setup around that. They don’t care about makers or users actual lives. As a user and a creator this approach is top heavy and not sustainable. Its simply not a method of marketing myself that I want to rely on. Can I remove it entirely and still achieve slow sustainable growth? I decided it was worth exploring.

Connection with real people

The online social scene now feels so throw away and temporary. Disconnected and full of rules based on profit only. I wanted to make art that connects with people, and makes people smile. I don’t want to make consumers impulse buy, without thinking it through.

I feel myself constantly pulled into a way of living; that is based on instant gratification or distraction. I feel its damage on my mind and spirit, disconnecting me from my environment and world I live in. I want to be present in this journey, both in the making of Art and the selling of it. And not be catering to a unsustainable system that has gone far beyond just a means to communicate with our friends.

I hope by not being pulled into that way of marketing, that I make better decisions around selling my art that lasts for longer than a few seconds on someones feed. Ensuring my growth and changes are based around the practice of making Art and Design and not trying to appeal to everyone and their dog.

Conclusion

So that’s it really. The short version. To give myself the gift of not being pulled into or contribute towards a system that I don’t think is currently putting the users and creators first. They have not quite clicked, that without us, there is no social media. Trying to manipulate us to our detriment and someone else’s gain will only last for so long.

I’m not ruling out all social media though. Just the one’s I feel that don’t align with me and how I want to live day to day. This is all of course my experiment that I have the privilege of trying out. Stay tuned to see how I go.

How do you feel about Social media? Does it affect your life like it does mine? Or are some of us just more affected by it than others?

Have you enjoyed an “Art outing” lately? I find nothing more inspiring than an exhibition or shop curated to look gorgeous…