I’m surprised I’m even writing this article, because I’m not sure I even know the answer to this question. At my core, I don’t believe in the concept of social media. Honestly, I think it’s done more bad for our culture than good. Many of you may disagree, and that’s okay.

Despite not liking the idea of social media, I’m still on social media. This has been a big crisis of conscience for me. I try to act in accordance with my values, so being on social media often makes me feel like a sellout or a phony. I threaten to delete my accounts on a regular basis. Why am I even on social media if I don’t agree with it?

Before I hit that delete button, something stops me every time. It all comes down to accountability, impact, and community.

When I got back into art five years ago, I used social media to ensure I kept creating. I told people, “I’m going to start posting daily illustrations on here.” And low and behold, that’s exactly what I did. I beat myself up for years about not making art. I just couldn’t sit down and do the work. Suddenly, social media helped me do the thing I wanted most. It held me accountable to my goal, and I became a happier person as a result. In this way, social media helped me act in accordance with my values. This month, I committed to doing a 31 Day Mini Painting Series on Instagram. Once I announced I was doing it, there was no turning back. I’m so glad I did, because I’ve grown so much as an artist as a result. For that, I have social media to thank. I can’t deny, it’s changed my life for the better in many ways.

Aside from accountability, social media allows me to impact others in a positive way. I know there are people out there struggling to make art just like I was. Or maybe they’re unhappy and being creative could really help them. Or maybe they need a little courage to kickstart a creative venture. It’s these people that stop me from leaving social media. If they’re not connected with me, how can I inspire and help them? When people send me questions on Instagram, or say I’ve made a difference in their lives, that means the world to me. It’s everything. It brings meaning to what I do. In the same way, there are a lot of artists who’ve changed my life for the better.

Lastly, there’s the community. There’s no other time in history when millions of artists have been able to gather in one place. I love how I can see what other creatives are working on. It’s amazing to me that all these artists are making their own impact on the world. Art saves lives (no joke). It fights depression and spreads joy. I think it’s beautiful that so many people are united in this mission. I love how I can connect with my fellow creatives and ask them questions. I can even share a poll, and get immediate feedback from likeminded people. In that way, social media makes me be a better artist.

Yes, social media has a (very) dark side. Just like any form of power, it can be used for good or for bad. And often, it ends up in the wrong hands. Social media is great at telling us what’s wrong with our lives, and often consumerism is the prescribed solution. Anyone who uses it to show how awesome their life is has probably lost sight of what matters. It’s not necessarily their fault, because this is the norm now. Honestly though, I think it’s narcissistic and bad for our culture. I hope anyone promoting a product actually thinks it will do good, and isn’t just trying to make a quick buck. Disclaimer - please unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself, or like you aren’t good enough. Maybe they project a perfect image that just isn’t realistic, and you know it. They may mean well, but your follow is your vote. Vote for what you want to see more of in the world.

I used to share more of my personal life on Instagram, and that felt complicated. I’m a designer, so I loved showing beautiful things I had purchased. While I love great design, I started to think about the impact this may have on others. Now, I remind myself that no one needs to know what kind of car I drive or where I buy my clothes in order for me to make a difference. In fact, that kind of goes against my mission. People working too hard for things they don’t need is often why they don’t have the energy to be creative. And it isn’t about how many likes or followers I get. I honestly don’t care how many people follow me. If I had only five followers that I could really inspire, versus thousands of followers who could care less, I’d pick the five. And what is a like anyways? I’m going to make my art whether people “like” it or not, so who cares? I’m rarely liking other people’s photos, because I’m too busy painting. I wish everyone were more busy making things and less busy scrolling, because I think the world would be a better place.

Sometimes my hatred for social media can rear its ugly head, and the positives feel like they don’t matter anymore. That’s when I want to delete my accounts. When this happens, it’s time for a break. I delete the app, and step away. Regardless, I make a habit of stepping away from social media Thanksgiving through New Years every year. It’s a magical time. Once in a while I’ll get in a creative rut, and have the urge to step away mid-year. I use this time to test new art techniques without the pressure of all eyes watching. These breaks have been transformative for me as an artist.

When I’m not taking a break, I log out of social media on the weekends in order to stay sane. Limiting the number of social media platforms I use has helped me find balance as well. It’s made social media feel smaller. I only use Instagram and Pinterest these days, and it’s a lot more manageable.

Bottom line, I like to think about what the apps can do for me, and not the other way around. I don’t use them in the way they were intended. I use it to support my goals and try and spread good. The follows and likes were designed to get us addicted to social media, but do they really matter? To mindlessly use the apps without realizing how much power you have at your fingertips is surely a mistake. I find it helpful to think of a mission statement for why I use social media. Yours could be as simple as - I use social media to be closer with family and friends. Perfect! That means being on social media when you’re actually with family and friends (instead of talking to them) is not in line with your mission (we’re all guilty of it, so don’t feel bad). My mission is to spread creativity and joy with my art, as well as to grow as an artist. When I keep this in mind, I hate social media a little less. We may not be best friends just yet, but we’re at least acquaintances who’ve reached a mutual understanding :)