My Introduction to Social Media
A screenshot of Mik’s Instagram page as she starts out.
I think the most terrifying part of being an artist is the fact that in 2026, you have no choice but to put yourself on the internet. This isn’t just a fear of throwing yourself online and not getting recognition, although I will admit that is a very big part of it. It’s a fear of knowing that no matter what I do to prevent it, someone, somewhere in the world is going to have something negative to say.
As much as I like to think positively and say that “it’s constructive criticism”, sometimes, people are just jerks.
So far, I haven’t had anything negative said about my work, mind you, I’ve been trying to grow my following for only a few short weeks now. I consider myself lucky at this point, knowing it hasn’t happened yet, but as my Instagram and Facebook (yes, that is all I am on for now) accounts grow, I know it will eventually be inevitable.
On the plus side, I am learning more about what being an artist on social media is all about, and that’s content creation and engagement with others, which, may I add, I feel I suck at. It’s remembering to film, and if I did film something, was it aesthetic enough to post (and I’m pretty picky about it)? It’s exploring posts when the algorithm isn’t on your side. It’s commenting and trying to push yourself in so many different ways to get the attention you think your art deserves.
It’s almost a full-time job when most artists need a job to pay for their art in the first place, as they get started, because art supplies are not cheap. In my personal experience, I spend a lot of my “spare” time commenting on posts, liking, and trying to grow a following that may never grow, even though I already have a job and school to worry about.
The bright side of this all comes out as social media isn’t just about finding the best buyer for my artwork. It’s also about connecting with other artists who give constructive criticism to help others improve. You pick up skills you never thought you could by experimenting and trying your best to create a beautiful piece of work.
If you’re a new artist and have managed to somehow find this blog, my advice, despite the fact that I’m just starting out, is not to let the “haters” get to you. Be brave and take the leap into the abyss of social media because you’ll never regret trying, but you will regret not trying at all.
