To be loved

A few days ago, a new platform for creatives appeared: Cara.
As you may know, the disgrace of Instagram can be seen daily, and the exodus has accelerated with their latest update & AI stuff. Like many, I decided to see if an Instagram alternative exists. The platform is minimalist; you can tailor it and get a portfolio and a timeline. Cherry on the cake: you can choose what you want to see, more friends, friends of friends or strangers! That's something we all missed on instagram, being able to see people we subscribed to instead of annoying ads and shitty content.

On the plus side, as the platform is still new, no one knows precisely the rules, so it feels like a massive first day of school where we're all trying to find new friends and our classes. Sounds good. Even myself, aka the introvert at the back of the class, played the social game and said hello to people in English and French, leaving comments when I loved artworks and trying to engage with other artists. Uncle Seth can be proud! But… after 48 hours on Cara and 14 followers, nothing magical happened, the same feelings triggered by instagram appeared: anxiety and feeling not good enough. Wtf? After 3 hours of scrolls, I put down my phone, deleted the app (it remains on my iPad) and decided to paint to breathe again while questioning that episode.

Why another platform? Why leave instagram for something as fast and time-consuming? Why not just a blog and Pinterest? Because of love and validation.

As artists (I should say human beings), we all need to feel loved and accepted, a part of a community, whether it's online or in real life, but it's like at school, some people are more popular than others, and it doesn't matter. Yes, it hurts sometimes, especially when putting yourself out there is already a big step, but choosing who will resonate with what we say or create is impossible. Yes, it feels like talking alone, surrounded by an immense crowd not really interested or too busy to care. Yes, sometimes you'll be jealous or sad because the attention goes to people who seem big enough to let others shine a bit.

All these feelings are ok, but none should stop you from continuing! Keep creating, writing, dancing, whatever you use as a tool for your voice! Do it afraid, sad, alone, with or without money, but do it! You never know when your time to shine will come, you never know if your journey is not an inspiration to someone you can't even see, and you never know if you're not already a funding member of a community.

Let's take some time away from the noise of the internet during summer and enjoy some "in real life" adventures!

Do you use social media for work? Your personal life? How do you navigate it, and do you feel you have a healthy relationship to it? I’d be interested to read about your experience!

previously published on my substack