Don't let social media hijack your artistic process

Creating art is deeply personal. Yet, in today’s world, social media often pushes artists to speed up their work, chase likes, and turn their creativity into quick content. This pressure can change how artists approach their craft, making them slaves to feedback, algorithms, and audience demands. The result? Burnout, loss of joy, and art that exists only briefly online.

So, slow down. Remember why you've become an artist in the first place.

Recognize the difference between creating and posting

Social media rewards speed and constant output. It compels some artists to share videos and images of how they make their art, sinking time into producing such content at the cost of the actual art. While sharing can build connection, it can also turn the creative process into a race. Instead of focusing on developing ideas fully, artists may feel forced to produce content that fits trends or pleases followers.

Key point: Making art is about exploration and growth. That time should be spent without the constant need to show what you're doing to your followers. Protect time to create without thinking about likes or comments.

Practical tips to separate creation from posting:

• Set specific times for social media use, separate from your creative time.

• Keep a private journal or sketchbook where you experiment freely.

• Share finished pieces or selected works, not every draft or idea.

• Remind yourself that not all art needs an audience immediately.

  
  

Avoid becoming a slave to feedback and algorithms

Algorithms prioritize engagement, which often means sensational or fast content. Artists can feel trapped trying to guess what will perform well. This chase leads to creating for others, not for yourself. That is design, not art. Feedback can be helpful and every artist should be open to a well formed critique, but quick emotionally fuelled comments from viewers can be distracting or discouraging if taken too seriously.

Example: An artist who changes their style every month to match trending aesthetics may lose their unique voice and feel defeated.

How to manage feedback and algorithm pressure:

• View feedback as information, not a rulebook.

• Focus on your artistic goals rather than chasing trends.

• Limit time spent analyzing social media metrics.

• Remember that algorithms change constantly; your art should not depend on them.

  
  

Keep burnout at bay by valuing the process

Burnout happens when creativity becomes a job rather than a passion. Constantly producing content for social media can extinguish the creative spark. When art is only about the end product or online approval, the process loses its meaning.

Tip: Rediscover the reasons why process is so important in the first place. This may help you maintain your trajectory and keep exhaustion at bay.

Ways to maintain balance and avoid burnout:

• Take breaks from social media regularly.

• Engage in creative activities without sharing them online.

• Set realistic goals that focus on quality, not quantity.

• Connect with other artists in real life for support, not competition.

  
  

Remember why you make art

Art is not just a product to be consumed quickly. It is a way to engage with ideas, process emotions, and hold up a mirror to ourselves and the world. When you focus on the artistic process instead of social media output, you create work that has longevity and depth.

Consider this: Some of the most respected artists created work without any thought of online presence. Their online footprint became a byproduct of their passion, it was never their main goal.

How to reconnect with your artistic purpose

• Reflect on what drew you to art initially.

• Look into production grants to remove financial pressure from the creative process

• Experiment with new techniques or subjects for your own interest,

• Celebrate small milestones in your creative journey.