Why I Finally Deleted Social Media As An Artist

[@driesketels]

Not convinced? Watch one of these 3 trending social media videos next: - How to Gain Organic Instagram Followers For Artists: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laq5iZiBq7GlrdU - The perfect Instagram bio for artists: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaTYoXx5bN6tjc0 - How to Sell Art on Instagram Without Having a lot of Followers (US): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jobUq5mLr7qod6s

[@MrEvilcannibal]

You can't deny the dark genius behind social media, it mirrors our insecurities and keeps us transfixed in it's beguiling reflection, all the while battering the mind into madness over the disillusion of the life that could have been whilst simultaneously stealing pieces of your own... One can only hope the light at the end of the tunnel doesn't turn out to be just another 'log in' page 😅

[@driesketels]

Wow, that's beautifully said, I wish I included something like this in the video, would've been a great ending to the video.

[@chandpiya1914]

I agree with you, I did the same , restricted my time on social media, and I'm feeling better about my self and my work

[@driesketels]

getting control of our lives! We got this!

[@saltwaterheartstudio]

I appreciate your honesty around this topic. I've considered getting rid of social media since it hasn'tworked for me at all (Facebook is the exception). For now I just put less pressure on myself. No schedule, I just post when I feel like it. I turned off alerts a long time ago.

[@driesketels]

I turned off alerts a long time ago as well but for me personally, that wasn't enough. Thanks for watching!

[@pannavekaria3816]

Incredibly honest and brave. I have never liked social media but felt pressured to showcase my artwork on these platforms and I would get anxiety everytime I needed to post. The minute i just detached from it and managed it to the degree where i just posted as and when and with what brought me joy without any expectations is when I started to feel better about my work and myself. I appreciate your videos and your energy. Thank you🙏

[@driesketels]

That's very kind of you to say. I can totally relate to that!

[@driesketels]

my shirt was folded wrong throughout the entire video... seriously embarassing

[@tone1446]

Tssst you did that on porpose to nail the artist look ;p

[@driesketels]

Hahaha... Imagine...

[@sarahcheever2229]

I didnt even notice. 😂 If it makes you feel any better, I once wore my scrubs inside out all day at work and didn't realize it until I got home that day. It happens to the best of us.

[@driesketels]

Had to search up 'scrubs' but yeah, I have done that before as well.

[@jorunnkjartansdottir3690]

I recently found you on KZbin. Have listened to maybe 6 or 7 and liked them all. I am one who paints and draws and draws and am actually very creative but I don't do much about marketing myself so that's why I started listening to you :) I truly agree with you about social media, at least about Facebook but I like IG. Ok that's enough of that :) What I wanted to say is that I really like your personality, I believe you are very genuine and I think this is a great decision for you. NOw its time for you to start living a real life again :) The Lord bless you young man .

[@driesketels]

Thank you Jorunn. Those are some nice and friendly words. Appreciated.

[@SnoozeMagoo]

I struggle with reconciling social media and my mental health myself. Ditching my fbook was one of the best decisions. Thanks for this video, I will be giving this some more deep thought. All the love, my friend.

[@driesketels]

I'm glad I could help. We are all on the journey

[@whoisakshataprabhu]

A few days ago, I temporarily disabled my IG accounts for the much needed 'Break' from the social media brainwash, and today I found this video! Thanks for posting! I have been thinking in the same way as you said. 👍

[@driesketels]

What a coincidence...

[@allyss4370]

After pandemic and being close at home for two years social media saved my life. As an artist I found some nice friends, artists and people who love art. But I agree with you, we should spend less time on s.m. and go back to real world :)

[@driesketels]

It's a double sided sword, and I'm aware that there are a lot of positive side effects as well.

[@clayplaystudio5310]

So true. Everything said here. So happy to see someone using the brain. Thanks!

[@georgev.miller6109]

Dries, I so agree with you about social media ………waist of time. You always bring the message home. Keep up the good work.

[@driesketels]

Always nice to read your comments.

[@martastolarskafineart]

I love this! Not to mention your accent! :D I totally agree with you - social media is going from my phone. I've deleted FB in 2019 - had many fewer Birthday wishes since - but at least I know, they are genuine! I'm only tempted by KZbin (to remain here) As I know the comments I make might contribute - and I only watch videos I actually search for. Very rarely something from my feed (this was was one of them though, and no regrets) It feels there is more of a community here than on IG etc. Love the art behind you, hope you get all you wish for :) and thanks for sharing!

[@1969kbl]

Kudos for your courage to do that! You are so genuine, polite, and beautiful. You deserve the best.🕊♥️🌞

[@driesketels]

Thank you so much Katrina! That means a lot.

[@TheDraculaAppreciationSociety]

Another great video. Something to consider

[@driesketels]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ginaskrzypchak7751]

I am glad you are keeping KZbin. I really like your videos and it’s so true KZbin is a place where there is real potential value to learn. That’s how I use it and it’s so worthwhile. Social media, yeah not so much… it’s great you have found ways to really limit that which is t serving you. Well done. 👏 I always appreciate your perspective.

[@driesketels]

I appreciate that! Thanks for your kind words Gina.

[@johnmd2263]

I could listen to you all day ♥️

[@driesketels]

You are too kind John! Hope you have a great weekend.

[@motlalepula_s01]

Loving the art piece on the left

[@driesketels]

Thank you

[@TheOkieammo]

My wife and i talk of this. Everybody seems to have these great lives...and we hit one hardship after another. We dont have the freedom to make the moves we want. We are tied down to my job and location !! Mabe some day my art will give us our freedom back !! I hope and pray !!

[@driesketels]

I hope you can find the freedom back. In the meantime wish you the best

[@Linda-zd6wu]

This is great information...thank you!!

[@driesketels]

You are so welcome!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

haha this is surprising after me learning from your SM tips lol, well what i d0 is just turn the head off of it not the app

[@Hunter-de3dx]

12:53"Is not abusing my gender" Much respect, man. More power to you. Will be implementing these social media tips for the am account I'm opening for sure.

[@driesketels]

You are welcome Sean

[@Hunter-de3dx]

@@driesketels Don't know the word Sean. I'm Tamimah.😆

[@EasySundayClub]

Finally got to check out your channel. Great topics, just subbed! Looks like you and your hair have a lot of adoring fans lol.

[@driesketels]

Hey, you guys, I've seen some of your videos! cool stuff. Welcome!

[@dibujitopsicodelico7863]

Thank you so much for your time and energy, I'm a young artist too and I'm totally agree with you (thinking seriously about delete my social media accounts) Once again thank you so much for your advises.

[@driesketels]

You can do this. Thanks for your comment. Appreciated.

[@TheDailyInnerWork]

Message came just at the right time. Instant deleted my instagram, facebook and youtube applications from my phone after bingewatching (again) for the past hour or so. Never thought about using instagram on pc only. sounds like a great solution! Thanks

[@driesketels]

Oh it's much better on pc especially when you download the free IG news feed eraser for desktop... not sure what it's called but it's good

[@driesketels]

it replaces the feed with productivity quotes

[@shanphotovideo]

Excellent information here and thank you!

[@driesketels]

Glad it was helpful!

[@motlalepula_s01]

I so much appreciate all your vids🙏🏾

[@driesketels]

You're welcome! I'm happy to have you

[@TierraUtopia]

KZbin is a lot more atemporal than other social media platforms. You can put your effort into a video and rest assured that it will still be watched in ten years time if the content is relevant enough, whereas with social media, nothing that is older than two or three days has the chance of being discovered, let alone in ten years time. Also, with KZbin, you can focus your energy on creation without having to think too much of the algorithm (although that is changed now too) and you don't need heavily edited content in order to be noticed, you just need to be interesting enough. I deleted my old FB account over ten years ago and only one person noticed out of over 400 friends, so yeah, I understand what you mean. I have a new FB account now but I'm seriously considering abandoning all social media accounts and keeping just my blog and YT. Thanks for all the insights in this video, I'll be checking out the rest of your content.

[@laurablacano8672]

Thanks for not deleting your youtube account lol. I've been enyoying your videos 👍

[@driesketels]

That's really kind of you Laura.

[@alexmacdonald3589]

You (my artistic friend) are a brilliant thinker. You might not realize it but you should consider writing a book. Write it about your view on the Human experience (from an artist perspective) and what you feel would help us evolve and survive into the future. Just a suggestion but I would buy a copy.

[@driesketels]

Wow, that's just a wonderful comment. Thank you, I'm not sure if my viewpoints are interesting enough to write a book or if there's demand for a book from me. But it's nice to know that I have at least one person interested already

[@dollimelaine]

right on Dries... i have no smartphone and folks are always surprised...no instagram... i do have fb but i am not often there...good for my biz tho... love this video!

[@driesketels]

Thanks... glad you take the time to write, always love to read your comments.

[@dollimelaine]

@@driesketels ah you are such a sweetheart*

[@midcenturymodern9330]

Back in the 1980's, the 1990's and centuries before that we lived without the "social" media. The "social" media are nothing more than mentally damaging annoyance.

[@ethical_sarah]

Thanks for sharing!

[@driesketels]

You bet!

[@annaguadagnini884]

I watched a very interesting documentary on this topic a while ago, it's called "The Social Media Dilemma". I found it on Netflix. If you haven't already seen it I think you may find it interesting...All the best Dries love your channel ;)

[@driesketels]

Thanks for sharing! See you around Anna

[@alexanderm6458]

i respect you

[@driesketels]

Oh thank you Alexander

[@joannelafrancejolaf]

Hello Dries, thank you so much for your video. I really like how genuine you are. Many of us have a love and hate relationship with social media. I prefer IG but it will soon become as bad as fb is. I do post regularly but have no plan and try not to pay too much attention to the likes. But hey somedays my ego show off lol Have to say I met good people, artist, on ig during the pandemic. At some point it did make it easier. But yes, soooo addictive and I would dare to say empty. And it does make me feel depress if i scroll so i am trying to avoid it. And i get way more creative.

[@inquisitivemind8672]

Social media is master of the sleight of hand. It, like anything can take and give...benefit or detract, but it seems to have perfected the art of creating and accentuating the imbalances in our own lives. We end up looking out so often, we forget to glance back in, in a meaningful way. By the time we've finished sifting through the lives of others to improve our own, ours is gone. It's always a good idea to take breaks and reflect. I don't know if all the little rules...( uninstall...deactivate...time limits) create another beast....but...hopefully that beast is smaller and can be subdued in a way SM can't be. Good Luck. I've been lucky to become friends with really great people because of SM, so I won't bash it entirely...😅 but I personally chose a few years back to disengage from everything but YT and I've written more and explored more than I did previously....I guess true mindfulness is key.

[@driesketels]

By the time we've finished sifting through the lives of others to improve our own, ours is gone. Love that line. Always nice to read your comments

[@inquisitivemind8672]

@@driesketels 😊

[@MM-nu7yw]

Yep. Deleted FB a few years ago and have never felt better or had more time for creative work. Sadly, when I see people on IG, Tiktok, etc who are so unbelievably "happy/wealthy/self-indulgent" it almost seems like a narcissistic cry for help - it's quite sad to see entire swaths of a population who need so much validation online where maybe if they had a few more hugs in their life, there would be more balance for them. Best wishes for you my friend!

[@driesketels]

There are def. quit a lot of narcissists on the internet for sure. Nice to hear you deleted your facebook, one worry less

[@jennyblad1038]

I hope u stay here hun! I think it’s quite common in your age to get to that conclusion in one way or another. For me it wasn’t social media but over dedicated to my career as a photographer. I crashed a marriage that way. After that I’ve more or less lived more of a slacker life. Just enjoying life. Responsibly..... sort of.... euhm... maybe not. I’m kinda broke but hey I have lots of friends I go to art school and I have my own business as a photographer so I’m not complaining. In the words of Nietzsche “For believe me! - the secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is: to live dangerously! Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius! Send your ships into uncharted seas! Live at war with your peers and yourselves! Be robbers and conquerors as long as you cannot be rulers and possessors, you seekers of knowledge! Soon the age will be past when you could be content to live hidden in forests like shy deer! At long last the search for knowledge will reach out for its due: - it will want to rule and possess, and you with it!”

[@driesketels]

Crashing a marriage... I have no way to relate to that, doesn't sound too much fun though. Thanks for your mindful comment, that's kindly appreciated. Ps: Love the quote but... I should be careful following his advice... after all, he lost all his friends throughout life.

[@jennyblad1038]

Hehe but I doubt that will happen to me. I’m too restless! Need to go out partying and having fun even though im closing in on 50! 🙈

[@rayneljred]

I made a video about the benefits of a social media detox, it's totally worth it.

[@ruthlamich6640]

A lot to think about.

[@driesketels]

thanks for watching

[@Christines_Place]

Social media made me feel like what I was doing didn't make the grade, is way too time consuming, and sometimes...overwhelming. I followed some of your advice months and months ago....but, for what? To what end? Just the end...I feel. The end of stressing over social media, and meeting those expectations put forth by the influencers, and others that got lucky. I have stopped daily postings, needing a video always, posting, posting, posting. Forget it!!!

[@driesketels]

I totally understand you, I think this is exactly how I feel at the moment!

[@butterflysigh9577]

good video.....

[@driesketels]

Glad you liked it!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

13:00 the trafic i get to my channel i get from IG , in this sense i leave it open. What i changed is that i just post and never see likes. From time to time I check the comments. Basically i focus only on who writes to me and on my posts showing my work, i don´t even watch feed or so. I wait to feel the urge to VISIT someones account, most of the time of an artist. And stories are the hell. I decided so because i am too empath, i rarely see a story without wanting to start a conversation, and most people are narcs. I also get easily influenced by the art i see on feed, included trendy shit. I also begin to have thoughs like why this why that, and this is waste of time, since I know what is my final product and what i want now. But from time to time I still find mind-opening to see god art on IG and share it. So i use IG the "narc way", but because i am an artist and have to be so in this sense, otherwise I see myself assasined by butts and other quality content of people who work harder than artists, like influencers and bitches

[@alexscheffer7641]

Dries but after all, what other options are left then to put yourself out there, promote your art or your art business if it's not social media? I totally get your point and think this video is on point but it kinda leaves one with a big questionmark on how to proceed. ;p

[@driesketels]

There are a lot of other options the one I'm about to explore is paid advertisement. Ps: you can still post on social just find a way to not lose time and energy on consuming social.

[@karena.williams4945]

OK, I agree. I need to watch WAY less social media, I know that, and IG feed is the most additive. But I just now took a bunch of notes on your video on how to use IG to promote my art, so now how do I direct people to my web page or otherwise market my art?

[@normapadro420]

I never let social networks disturb my creativity. My work is great, because I like it. I never expect anyone to like anything I do. It's not normal to want anything like this for me. I don't take any of this too serious, because I don't need it. I read things that I want to learn from. Anything else I ignore. I don't depend on it either, because in the past companies have deleted other platforms, and things changed. So it doesn't matter if they take it all away tomorrow. It's not good to depend on anything when it comes to the internet. Nothing is that reliable. I have lost accounts, and had to renew accounts. It's really very unreliable.

[@brunatheprincess]

your points are really valid tho, but as someone who deeted social media in tha past,it's not worth it, you eventually end up coming back because it's almost fuckin impossible to live from art without it nowadays and let me tell ya it´s not funny starting to zero all over again,. if you are feeling overwhelmed Just deactivate it and delete the apps, you can comeback when you feel better lol

[@driesketels]

Perhaps the wiser way of going about it indeed. Thanks for your feedback.

[@martinagibbs2175]

A few months ago I sent you a message on KZbin that I hated social media and have never actually used any of it, well you tube being the exception because I learn stuff on it and I go through phases with it, where I won't look at it for months and then be glued to it 24/7 for a week. All my friends thought I was nuts and I was just starting to think maybe there right.... and now finally I'm being vindicated for my choice.. I stuck to my guns 😊😉

[@driesketels]

Haha, I'm glad you found yourself to be right

[@artKarolina]

Everything I experienced and think is in this video. I don't even have a fraction of the followers or engagement so it's even more blatantly obvious what I waste of time it all is. I mostly focus on 1 on 1 conversations on the internet now or something like streaming that let's me have direct connection with people.

[@driesketels]

That's a great way to move forward... real connections always pay off;

[@Wurstlsepp]

In almost 30 years of experience of being in the internet I can honestly say: Internet people are no real people!

[@driesketels]

"internet people" I like the thought of a different type of species, the internet species.

[@FrancescaBettiMusic]

@@driesketels ahah

[@PhilDVlankz]

Social dilemma. Nice decision. Good luck!

[@driesketels]

Thanks!

[@Nats77777]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@driesketels]

:)

[@jrlakin370]

Yeah, I spend way to much time on Facebook and IG....

[@driesketels]

We all do right

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

when real life is a scape for social media, then your arrived at this video

[@brunatheprincess]

"why i finally deleted social media..." *posts on social media

[@driesketels]

hahahah

[@Themacintheroni]

👏💯

[@driesketels]

Whoop

[@ArtByEmilyHare]

I'm searching for more and more of these videos. I think for me tiktok is the most addictive. I have lost a lot of time on there. There is really interesting nuggets of info (gardening, cooking etc which I like) but there's also a LOT of drama (if follow a few activists!). I am very close to deleting it (although also kind of want to use it for art but i think i'd rather put up youtube videos instead.. Instagram is impossible now so I want to forget about trying to post regularly and only post when I want to and not think about algorithms or reach! Facebook in the past has helped me reach SO many people but it doesn't anymore, it's very throttled. Twitter seems the only place to reach folks but it is also... a cesspit LOL

[@madkittyjoey70]

I quit Facebook 3 months ago because I got bored with it all. I don't miss it, to be honest. Plus the "perfect life" posts got overbearing. One friend asked me if I would ever go back and I said "Probably not."

[@FlosoArt]

As artist we must ask ourselves "What/how can we contribute to our local community through our Art?" Is the answer too this question "Social media?"

[@driesketels]

Is that the main question driving your artistic practice? I like it

[@cliffdariff74]

Good idea.... just have a website to show and sell your art, and for close friends to find you. Also Dries... get a bigger space to make your art 😆😆

[@driesketels]

Get a bigger space to make your art, I like that.

[@redguy2076]

The reason why everything being made looks ridiculously similar... you guessed it.

[@driesketels]

What's the reason everything being made looks so similar?

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Until fairly recently life used to have a natural rhythm, an ebb and flow, especially in the creative life. But I realize its not just me. The population as a whole is out of sync with nature unless its for "recreation". The only connection is the flipping phone!

[@driesketels]

It's a sad thing but the flipping phone seems to be one of the main connections indeed;

[@noname-nu6oo]

If not for social media then how do artist promote to sell? I agree with you but what about if you are just beginning as artist and you want to sell?

[@driesketels]

I'm going to reply to this comment in my upcoming q&a video probably.

[@clayplaystudio5310]

Can you share the blocking apps I may need these.

[@normapadro420]

Remember google plus, and all the ither nice things yahoo had like all those nice online games? Well one day they deleted everything. So now I don't rely on anything. I just read educational stuff, because that's what I'm into. Never rely on things like social medias.

[@shaikhahkaseb]

Hi, i am an author and artist too, could you list some names of the websites to help us sell our arts instead of wasting our time on posting in social media which I thought it would reach to million arts lovers, i am just so glad to hear your video, all the best always

[@driesketels]

I have a video about the best websites to sell art... It's perfect for you.

[@shaikhahkaseb]

@@driesketels could you send me the link, fully appreciate it

[@Handle1916]

No don’t do it - many people will miss you xxx

[@driesketels]

Oh that's very kind. Did you see the complete video already?

[@Handle1916]

@@driesketels Yes I saw the entire video and it makes a lot of sense. It clarified so many aspects of social media. I’m on Instagram too but even I receive likes from heaps of young girls who only post images of themselves and have nothing intelligent to say. It’s really irritating. And the ads. What a waste of time! But I have made contact with some great artists whose work I hadn’t seen. I think that’s where I first saw your work so you are one of the valued contacts.

[@Handle1916]

Forgot to say I don’t use social media on my phone - just the PC. That reduces it all to a reasonable level.

[@driesketels]

That's where you first saw my work... wow that's interesting. I almost forgot there was a time where Instagram was my main thing indeed. haha :)

[@driesketels]

Ps: only using it on your pc is the way to go indeed. Using it on your phone is so so dangerous

[@exsurgemechprints2671]

How do you make your friends' posts invisible while at the same time not blocking them? And not just tinkering settings one by one for every friend, like I want to block ALL of my friends' posts, but not the facebook art pages and groups that I do want to be updated with.

[@driesketels]

I have no idea, you are asking this to the wrong guy

[@exsurgemechprints2671]

@@driesketels thank you very much !!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

3:11 I get it total, makes me also sick. I did a competition on my radio program where composers sent me their pieces. The idea was to get the votes for the best piece via comment on related instagram post. I never got ONE vote till today, 3months after haha. All composers got a mail with infos. No one answered. Why should I waste my time being social and promoting art so? While i don´t even ask for attention about my own music. I could have done the entire program with my music, since i own that hour on this radio

[@driesketels]

Owning an hour of radio... that sounds like a lot of fun... Now I also want an hour of radio XD

[@Mariposadeluz]

Beautiful but for me it Doesn’t work I deleted all my media and it’s been amazing

[@driesketels]

We'll see if I keep it up. Perhaps I'll go more extreme soon.

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

9:30 yes this is real, but especially if you are before 30´s. I guess if you have strong frame you get this that the algorthm just does not share some content, often YOUR BEST content. Your best content is always somehow out of the trend. By the way i can´t see photos of people crossing the streets anymore, what a shit trend in photoghraphy

[@driesketels]

first

[@saltwaterheartstudio]

Evidence that you've been on tiktok too long. 😂

[@driesketels]

hahahah xD

[@good2btheking]

HEAR, HEAR

[@driesketels]

Ahoy!

[@switzerstudio]

je hebt al je social media nog... dus wat bedoel je nu?

[@driesketels]

Did you watch the video closely?

[@bleachedout805]

So in truth you are merely limiting your social media activity to a single platform. Healthy choice and you have enough of a following here to continue to grow even if all you do are these confessional stuff. I'm not into it but I wish you the best.

[@driesketels]

Oh this feels like a goodbye? Are you leaving us?