Social Media is Burning | 2024 Artist Update (Ft @vonnart )

Inkwell
21 Mar 202442:50

TLDRThe video transcript discusses the challenges artists face on social media platforms, questioning if social media is still a viable space for artists to grow their following. The conversation explores the rapid changes in social media algorithms and the impact on engagement, the struggle of new platforms to gain traction, and the pressure on artists to conform to popular trends. The speakers share personal experiences and strategies for navigating these platforms, emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision and not relying solely on social media for validation or success.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Social media algorithms and trends can be unpredictable, making it challenging for artists to maintain consistent engagement and growth.
  • 🔄 The importance of not sacrificing personal artistic vision for the sake of social media popularity and algorithms.
  • 🌐 The rapid changes in social media platforms, such as Twitter's issues, TikTok's potential ban, and Instagram's identity crisis, create uncertainty for artists.
  • 💡 Artists should focus on creating content they are proud of rather than chasing trends or trying to fit into what's currently popular on social media.
  • 🔗 Building a following on social media often involves a balance between organic growth and using paid promotions or ads strategically.
  • 🤝 Engaging with the audience is important for retention, but it may not necessarily translate to significant growth in followers.
  • 🎭 The rise of AI in art has led to concerns about devaluation of digital art and the challenge of distinguishing between AI-generated and artist-created works.
  • 📈 In-person events, such as conventions, can be a viable alternative to social media for artists to connect with their audience and grow their following.
  • 🚀 Diversifying the ways artists connect with their audience and sell their work is crucial, as relying solely on social media can be risky due to its ever-changing landscape.
  • 🌟 Despite the challenges, there are still opportunities for artists to succeed on social media by staying true to their artistic vision and focusing on creating quality content.

Q & A

  • What challenges are artists facing on social media platforms currently?

    -Artists are facing challenges such as fluctuating algorithms, changing user engagement, and the need to adapt to new platforms and formats. They also grapple with the balance between creating popular art and staying true to their personal artistic vision.

  • How has the landscape of social media for artists changed over the years?

    -The landscape has shifted significantly with the rise and fall of various platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Artists have had to adapt to new formats and strategies to maintain visibility and engagement with their audience.

  • What is the impact of AI on the art world and artists' perception of their work?

    -AI has introduced a new level of complexity, as it can generate art that may resemble human-created works. This has led to concerns about the devaluation of digital art and the challenge of distinguishing between AI-generated and human-created art.

  • How do artists balance creating content for social media with their personal artistic goals?

    -Artists must find a balance between creating content that is likely to gain popularity on social media and staying true to their personal artistic vision. This often involves experimenting with different styles and formats to see what resonates with their audience without compromising their creative integrity.

  • What strategies do artists use to grow their following on social media?

    -Artists employ various strategies such as posting frequently, creating fan art, maintaining a consistent style, engaging with their audience, and producing content that is relatable or humorous to increase their following and engagement.

  • How do social media algorithms affect the visibility of an artist's work?

    -Algorithms determine which posts are shown to followers and potential new viewers. Artists need to understand and adapt to these algorithms to ensure their work is seen by as many people as possible.

  • What is the role of in-person events in building an art career?

    -In-person events like conventions and art shows provide opportunities for artists to connect directly with their audience, sell their work, and grow their following outside of social media platforms.

  • How do artists deal with the pressure of social media and its impact on their self-esteem?

    -Artists must learn to separate their self-worth from their social media performance. Focusing on creating art they are passionate about and recognizing that social media numbers do not define their success is key.

  • What are the potential future trends in social media for artists?

    -The future of social media for artists is uncertain, with platforms rising and falling in popularity. Artists should be prepared to adapt to new platforms and trends while focusing on their core artistic skills and passions.

  • How do artists handle the challenge of creating content that stands out on social media?

    -Artists need to find ways to make their content unique and engaging. This can involve experimenting with different styles, formats, and storytelling techniques to capture the attention of their audience.

  • What is the advice for artists who are struggling to gain visibility on social media?

    -Artists should focus on creating high-quality work they are passionate about and consider diversifying their promotional efforts beyond social media. In-person events, collaborations, and word-of-mouth can also contribute to building a strong following.

Outlines

00:00

📉 The Changing Landscape of Social Media for Artists

This paragraph discusses the challenges artists face in gaining a following on social media platforms. It highlights the struggle of balancing personal artistic vision with the demands of popular art and the pressure to be active on multiple platforms. The conversation also touches on the rapid changes in social media algorithms and the potential decline of certain platforms, emphasizing the need for artists to not let these factors dictate their creative process.

05:01

🚀 Adapting to Social Media Trends and Algorithm Shifts

The speakers in this paragraph share their experiences and observations about the evolution of social media trends. They discuss the rise and fall of different platforms and the strategies artists use to adapt, such as posting frequently, creating fan art, and maintaining a consistent style. The paragraph also addresses the impact of social media on artists' self-perception and the dilemma of conforming to trends versus staying true to one's unique artistic voice.

10:03

🤔 Navigating the Complexities of Social Media Engagement

In this paragraph, the focus is on the complexities of engaging with audiences on social media. The speakers explore the balance between creating content that resonates with a broad audience and maintaining artistic integrity. They discuss the role of relatability in content, the challenges of diversifying one's work, and the importance of not letting social media metrics define one's self-worth as an artist.

15:03

🎨 The Impact of AI on the Art World and Social Media

The conversation here delves into the impact of AI on the art world, particularly how it has changed the perception of digital art. The speakers discuss the challenges faced by artists whose work resembles AI-generated art and the potential devaluation of digital art due to the rise of AI. They also touch on the importance of in-person interactions and the shift in sales from online to in-person platforms.

20:03

🌐 Exploring Alternative Platforms and the Future of Art

This paragraph explores the potential of alternative social media platforms for artists and the importance of understanding the user base of these platforms. The speakers discuss the limitations of platforms like ArtStation and DeviantArt for growing a general audience and the need for artists to have representation in industry regulations. They also share their personal experiences with social media advertising and the benefits of focusing on creating quality work rather than chasing social media trends.

25:05

💡 Overcoming Social Media Challenges and Finding Success

The speakers offer advice for artists struggling to build a social media following, emphasizing the importance of creating content that resonates on a human level and telling a story. They suggest diversifying efforts beyond social media and not relying solely on online platforms for business success. The paragraph concludes with a reminder that social media is just one tool among many for artists and should not dictate the artistic process.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Social Media

Social media refers to digital platforms that allow users to create and share content or participate in social networking. In the context of the video, it is discussed as a tool for artists to gain following and visibility, but also as a source of challenges and uncertainties due to its rapidly changing algorithms and user engagement patterns.

💡Algorithm

An algorithm is a set of rules or instructions for solving problems or accomplishing tasks, especially in computing. In the video, the term is used to describe the underlying mechanisms that determine the visibility and reach of artists' content on social media platforms, which can significantly influence their success and growth.

💡Engagement

Engagement in the context of social media refers to the interactions users have with content, such as likes, comments, shares, and views. The artists in the video discuss the importance of engagement as a metric for measuring the success of their social media presence and the challenges they face in maintaining and increasing engagement levels.

💡Artistic Authenticity

Artistic authenticity refers to the genuine expression of an artist's unique vision and style,不受外界流行趋势或商业压力的影响. The video emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision rather than conforming to what is popular or trending on social media platforms.

💡Platform Saturation

Platform saturation occurs when a social media platform becomes overly crowded with content and users, making it difficult for individual voices to be heard. The artists discuss the impact of platform saturation on their work's visibility and the need to diversify their online presence to reach a wider audience.

💡Content Creation

Content creation refers to the process of producing and sharing original material, such as artwork, videos, or written content, on digital platforms. In the video, the artists share their experiences and strategies for creating content that resonates with their audience while also staying true to their artistic vision.

💡Following

A following on social media refers to a group of users who regularly engage with and consume the content posted by a particular individual or account. The video discusses the importance of building and maintaining a following for artists to gain recognition and success on social media platforms.

💡Digital Art

Digital art is a form of artistic expression that uses digital technology as a primary tool for creation. The artists in the video discuss the challenges and opportunities of promoting and selling digital art through social media, as well as the impact of AI on the perception and value of digital art.

💡Networking

Networking refers to the process of building and maintaining professional relationships and connections. In the context of the video, artists discuss the importance of networking with their audience and other industry professionals through social media and other platforms to support their artistic careers.

💡Platform Shifts

Platform shifts refer to significant changes in the policies, algorithms, or user base of social media platforms that can affect how content is shared and discovered. The video highlights the unpredictability of platform shifts and the need for artists to adapt their strategies to remain visible and relevant.

💡Artistic Growth

Artistic growth refers to the process of developing and improving one's artistic skills, style, and creative expression over time. The artists in the video discuss the balance between pursuing artistic growth and creating content that appeals to their social media audience, emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision.

Highlights

The challenge of gaining a following on social media and the balance between creating popular content and staying true to one's artistic vision.

The rapid changes in social media platforms and their impact on artists, with platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram undergoing significant transformations.

The importance of not letting social media algorithms dictate an artist's self-worth or creative output.

The struggle artists face with the need to be present on multiple social media platforms without knowing which one will be most effective.

The emergence and quick disappearance of new social media platforms, such as Threads and Blue Sky, adding to the uncertainty in the social media landscape.

The potential decline of major social media platforms and the search for a viable path forward for artists in the digital age.

The impact of social media's changing algorithms on artists' ability to reach their audience, particularly on platforms like Instagram.

The phenomenon of 'dead followers' and the challenge it presents for artists trying to engage with their audience on aging social media accounts.

The shift in Instagram's focus from a photo-sharing platform to competing with TikTok through Reels, and the mixed results for artists.

TikTok's introduction of photo posts and the ongoing exploration of its effectiveness for artists.

The dilemma artists face between producing work that aligns with their passion versus work that conforms to popular trends for social media success.

The debate over traditional social media growth strategies, such as posting frequency, engagement with followers, and content type, in the current digital environment.

The impact of artificial intelligence on the perception of digital art and the challenges it presents for digital artists.

The significance of building a diverse following on various platforms and the limited transferability of audiences between different social media.

The perspective that social media should not be the primary focus for artists, emphasizing the importance of creating art that fulfills personal creative goals.