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I’ve been tangled in the mess of social media for years. Tried limiting it, failed. Thought about quitting but made excuses. The biggest one? “I need it for my art.” Classic. I was stuck in this loop that left me feeling like sh*t. I’d justify it by saying, “It’s fine, I’m just checking out recipes or budgeting tips.” But let’s be real, no one needs to scroll through Excel hacks and banana bread tutorials for hours every day.

I’ve got two Instagram accounts, one for my art, one personal. I genuinely love seeing the work of fellow artists, but my feed? Mostly random reels and ads. I have to scroll endlessly just to catch a glimpse of someone I actually follow. And guess what? My followers aren’t seeing my posts either. It’s like shouting into the void. This platform isn’t built for artists anymore.

The Evolution of Social Media

Social media used to be about connection. It added something to our lives. But then the business model shifted, they needed to monetize. First came the ‘likes,’ giving us little dopamine hits and keeping us coming back for validation. More time on the app = more ads = more money.

But that wasn’t enough. So they rolled out algorithmic feeds, designed to keep us hooked. They know I love art, it’s all I follow. But healthy art consumption means I’ll eventually log off. So instead, they throw rage bait, memes, and viral nonsense my way to keep me scrolling. It’s a billion-dollar industry engineered to hijack our attention.

What started as an additive tool became subtractive. These platforms aren’t “social” anymore, they’re just media. Dopamine slot machines in our pockets.

Resistance

I finally did it. I deleted the apps from my phone. And wow! Instant clarity. My mind feels lighter. I’m more creative, more peaceful, I just feel better! Doom scrolling is hard to resist when the apps are right there, so I removed the temptation.

Okay, So How Does This Work for Us Artists?

Here’s my system:

1. Delete the apps from your phone.
2. Use only the desktop version or a tablet. (I prefer the tablet, it still lets me use music and stickers in stories.)
3. Only open the app when you want to post or share something.
4. (Optional) If you do scroll, stick to accounts you follow. Keep it short and sweet.

But How Do I Reach People With My Art?

Let’s be honest, are you actually reaching new people on Instagram or Facebook anymore? For me, it’s been stagnant for ages. Less than 10% of followers even see my posts. We handed too much power to these platforms, and they don’t have our best interests at heart.

Posts have a tiny shelf life unless they go viral, and even then, that wave dies out fast. It’s not search-based. It’s luck. It’s algorithm roulette. And to win, you have to churn out nonstop clickbait. I tried. It burned me out.

So I started a YouTube channel. People can search for sketchbook tours, art processes, etc., and actually find me. I want to be discovered by my people. That’s why I’m starting this blog too. To reach you. Intentionally. Not by playing the algorithm game.

I’m still keeping my Facebook and Instagram accounts. But the shift is this: I’m a creator first, not a consumer. I don’t want to lose the small community I’ve built there. There is still a little bit of value to those apps but not so much. But I’ve learned not to put all my eggs in one basket.

Conclusion

Deleting the apps from my phone helped me break free from doom scrolling. I feel better. I’m living with more intention. I’m excited to see where this takes me. I’m reclaiming time I can use to do things that matter to me. I have been subscribing to newsletters from creators I love and this is one of my favorite ways now to stay up to date with what they do.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Have you tried quiet quitting social media? Let’s talk.