It’s indeed too bad Facebook (Meta) bought Instagram. I tried other services like Glass or Vero but I keep coming back to instagram, despite of all the ads it is still the best place to connect with other photographers and artists.
Not sure what’s the solution but I think so many photographers (me included) are now embracing Substack as part of that possible migration into something better.
Thank you for succinctly expressing this position. For those of us who make images for our livelihood, there is always a need to share our work that is at odds with the platforms where they are viewed. I have a number of accounts on different platforms, and none does what I hope. The problem, as you state, is that in the final analysis, any image a person shares instantly becomes a piece of content for the platform to brandish at others as it serves ads. It is more valuable than it’s creator, and it’s value is measured solely by it’s metrics. All other qualities are removed from consideration.
For a “creator” to see success on these platforms, they must create content that serves the algorithm not creative, editorial, or aesthetic vision.
I am trying to use Substack as a way of sharing where I maintain some relationship with the viewer -- my success is still in question. And I still believe every creative should evangelize their own website... but the good old days of the web are now just a thin strata in the digital sediment.
I am a disliker. However, the problem is the current generation of social media marketers that I deal with at companies. "What's your Insta" or "What's your IG?" are questions that start any new client meet. I cant express to them that photography is my happy place. Forcing myself to post to get likes is not my happy place and it has not been proven to me that I 'need ' to do it to maintain my happy place. It does not translate to more money because the audience is not the client but the fussing marketers.
I therefore went to restructuring. I removed all the people I 'should' follow and follow only those I have a genuine interest in. I hide ads continually and reject suggestions regularly to see my choices. Having said that, I now have an alternative structure or magazines/websites/podcasts that circumvent IG. I have seen some I follow leave IG and go for the subscriber format either free/ or with a nominal fee.
That may sound labour intensive but it is the real way of establishing your interests rather than an algorithm telling you your interest.... plus I ultimately waste less time and am better informed.
So many paranoid..but so little time...information is great and secrecy is the dark ages. Not having secrets frees the person..you are missing the world as it could be but tis your choice...I find people lost to me for decades as one cannot obtain an email address oft times but if they are on that terrible ...oh so scary facebook..they might very well be easy to contact..I did this this last month to find a few lost in time and am gratified in so doing. Of course I live in a free country without craziness like Trumpism so maybe that accounts for the difference.
It's frustrating. Instagram used to be a place for inspiration. Now its there are more ads I don't want and few of the people I follow. Is there an alternative?
It’s indeed too bad Facebook (Meta) bought Instagram. I tried other services like Glass or Vero but I keep coming back to instagram, despite of all the ads it is still the best place to connect with other photographers and artists.
Not sure what’s the solution but I think so many photographers (me included) are now embracing Substack as part of that possible migration into something better.
Thanks for writing this. Well said.
Thank you for succinctly expressing this position. For those of us who make images for our livelihood, there is always a need to share our work that is at odds with the platforms where they are viewed. I have a number of accounts on different platforms, and none does what I hope. The problem, as you state, is that in the final analysis, any image a person shares instantly becomes a piece of content for the platform to brandish at others as it serves ads. It is more valuable than it’s creator, and it’s value is measured solely by it’s metrics. All other qualities are removed from consideration.
For a “creator” to see success on these platforms, they must create content that serves the algorithm not creative, editorial, or aesthetic vision.
I am trying to use Substack as a way of sharing where I maintain some relationship with the viewer -- my success is still in question. And I still believe every creative should evangelize their own website... but the good old days of the web are now just a thin strata in the digital sediment.
I am a disliker. However, the problem is the current generation of social media marketers that I deal with at companies. "What's your Insta" or "What's your IG?" are questions that start any new client meet. I cant express to them that photography is my happy place. Forcing myself to post to get likes is not my happy place and it has not been proven to me that I 'need ' to do it to maintain my happy place. It does not translate to more money because the audience is not the client but the fussing marketers.
I therefore went to restructuring. I removed all the people I 'should' follow and follow only those I have a genuine interest in. I hide ads continually and reject suggestions regularly to see my choices. Having said that, I now have an alternative structure or magazines/websites/podcasts that circumvent IG. I have seen some I follow leave IG and go for the subscriber format either free/ or with a nominal fee.
That may sound labour intensive but it is the real way of establishing your interests rather than an algorithm telling you your interest.... plus I ultimately waste less time and am better informed.
So many paranoid..but so little time...information is great and secrecy is the dark ages. Not having secrets frees the person..you are missing the world as it could be but tis your choice...I find people lost to me for decades as one cannot obtain an email address oft times but if they are on that terrible ...oh so scary facebook..they might very well be easy to contact..I did this this last month to find a few lost in time and am gratified in so doing. Of course I live in a free country without craziness like Trumpism so maybe that accounts for the difference.
It's frustrating. Instagram used to be a place for inspiration. Now its there are more ads I don't want and few of the people I follow. Is there an alternative?
Perfectly said. I’m struggling with these issues too.
What are your plans, Melissa? Are you going to log off Instagram entirely? Maybe migrate over to Glass or one of the other photo-sharing apps?