I don’t have Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube profiles anymore.

But we can still be friends—actual friends, instead of “I follow you and you follow me but we never see each others’ updates” friends.

Here are some ways that can happen:

You could email me to say “hello.” (Please do this. I really like it when people do this.)
You might sign up to receive vibrant monthly emails. (Also a favorite.)
You can opt into the intimacy of weekly updates. (I’d be honored.)
If snail mail is more your thing, my sticker club is the way to go. (This is a lot of fun.)

Why I quit Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube:

Ever since all corporate social media platforms ditched the chronological timeline in favor of one controlled by an algorithm that’s hell-bent on keeping you on the apps longer, they aren’t useful for independent artists.

It doesn’t matter how much you post or how beautiful your work is, if you don’t already have an audience, it’s almost impossible to convince the computer program running things that it should show your content.

The algorithm in charge of these social media platforms promotes hate.

The apps’ computer overlord rewards content that gets a lot of engagement, and that includes posts that provoke violence. This remains the case despite public outcry demanding change.

Please know that just because I refuse to participate in Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube doesn’t mean I think you have to cancel your accounts.

video by NJ.com reporter Andre Malok

I believe so strongly in life after social media that I made a whole series of paintings about it, and that series, Friend Request, was featured in this lovely NJ.com video!

There’s plenty of info about ditching Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube on my blog:

How social media cheats you out of your creativity.
How it weakens your art.
What to say to people who defend the privacy violations of these apps.
The one thing you must do when getting off of social media.
What to expect in the first few months after deleting.
How to get art opportunities when you’ve canceled social media.
How to find and follow artists without these apps.
One option for random internet connections that’s anti-algorithm and completely ad-free.
Why I’m comfortable declaring that social media is officially dead.

[video transcript]

This video includes insights from Anne of My Giant Strawberry, Jen McCleary, Kristen Sampson, Julia Bausenhardt, Nicole Cicak, Kelsey Rodriguez, and Sneha of Essem Creatives as well as me!