While it's true that your follower count is not indicative of your artistic skill/worth, I think too many ppl are dissmissing large accts as only being large bc "they are industry professionals" and cheated? Like, networking is a skill and bloody hard??

I'm not saying this to defend large accts that have been flooding small tags or not say they have privilage. I just think the harassment and hatred the art community gives large accts is also a problem. Especially since a lot of very talented, young ppl worked hard to get there.

I've seen some of my mutuals, minors who grew up with social media get hated on bc 1) they know what they're doing and are always engaging. And 2) they make mistakes I def made at 14-18 but not in front of several thousand followers.

Some ppl will just be better at networking and won't get burnt out as easily. I'm autistic and introverted and 27. I didn't get on social media till I was like 18. I get exhausted very easily socializing. I also worked for 5 yrs, leaving me with no energy to promote till recently

Bc of this I have always struggled to network. And bc of that, my art has struggled to get out there. I used to internalize this but now that I am engaging more, I see that throwing art into the void w/out engaging a platform is just not effective. It's also a lot of effort.

I am constantly being tagged by the same diligent creators on art shares, oc drops etc. And I'm very proud of them but also recognize I can't keep up. Networking, for me, is very draining. I limit myself & remind myself it's OK not to participate or be social.

Sure I could be on twitter trying to grind out numbers for hours (bc that's what it takes when you're under a certain threshold) but is it worth it TO ME? Is me getting an extra few followers worth the effort? Some this may be harder or easier for depending on other variables.

Yes. Larger accounts will always have privilages. That's just how visability works. And it sucks that some larger accts have taken advantage of small artist tags on purpose or accidentally (its just a fact if u have 7k you're gonna steal traction from accts with <500). But...

I think that statement should pretain to instances where a large acct actually benifit from that privilage and not shame large accts just because they are large or are percieved to not "deserve" their platform. Some won't but many will.

Especially when few are actually "famous" industry professionals. Most are students and teens who have the networking skill, time, and energy to promote their work. And even if they are in the industry, most creatives are underpaid, overworked and underappreciated.

My social media presence has been pretty garbo. Part of this is bc I do actually work in the industry, both doing copy, design and editing. When you work 40-hrs you do not have time to network online. You likely choose btw personal art, leisure or chores.

Being an artist is never glamorous. Even with 24k followers. Even if you are a full time graphic designer. Every artist has their own streangths & weaknesses & ea one of us needs to come to terms with that so we can stop beating ourselves over numbers or envying others with them.