Social Media Desertion by Prominent Photographers: Possible Reasons Explored
In the world of photography, a significant shift has been occurring, with renowned photographers opting to reduce their presence on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. This trend, far from being a new phenomenon, has been growing steadily over the years.
The reason behind this retreat can be traced back to the evolving nature of these platforms. They have morphed into demanding content mills, requiring constant posting and engagement, a pace that clashes with the meticulous and time-intensive artistry that established photographers are known for. The algorithms prioritise frequent posting, preferably with trending audio and a hook that stops the scroll within 0.3 seconds, favouring quantity and trend-driven content over the careful, thoughtful work that photographers are celebrated for.
This shift has led to concerns among photographers about losing control over their creations. Platforms like Meta (Instagram) have been granted broad rights to use their work in advertising, AI training, and future monetization schemes, a situation that many find unpalatable.
This is in stark contrast to newer influencers and photographers who thrive in this environment, navigating social media with strategies like frequent posts, trendy audio, and hooks to stop scrolling. These strategies, however, are alien to the meticulous work of renowned photographers.
Tom May, a freelance writer and editor specializing in art, photography, design, and travel, has observed this trend. In 2019, a list feature titled "20 Famous Photographers You Should Follow on Twitter" was published, including photographers such as Rankin, Pete Souza, and Ami Vitale. However, today, many of these photographers have not posted in months or have deleted their accounts.
One notable example is landscape photographer Dave Morrow, who nuked his entire digital presence in 2018, once commanding 1.5 million social media followers. The constant need for engagement and the potential for image theft have made social media an environment where it is difficult for photographers to prove ownership or receive compensation.
Moreover, the constant demand for content is not sustainable for artists who became famous for their art, such as Annie Leibovitz. The cognitive burden from the need to constantly engage with their audience on social media is another factor that contributes to this retreat.
Social media validation feels inappropriate for photographers who have already proven their worth through gallery exhibitions, commercial clients, and peer recognition. The platforms, however, trigger dopamine release, creating addiction patterns similar to substances like cocaine.
In essence, the creativity demands, loss of control over intellectual property, and the unsustainable pace forced by social media algorithms are key reasons why famous photographers are less active on platforms like Twitter and Instagram today. This trend, once seen as career suicide, now looks like prophecy.
- Renowned photographers are foregoing social media due to platforms' transformed nature, which prioritizes rapid content creation over their detailed work.
- The shifting landscape of social media platforms, with their demanding algorithms, conflicts with the time-consuming artistry typically associated with renowned photographers.
- Photographers worry about losing control over their creations, as platforms like Meta (Instagram) can use their work for advertising, AI training, and future monetization schemes.
- Newer photographers and influencers, conversely, excel on social media with strategies such as frequent posts, trendy audio, and hooks to stop scrolling.
- In 2019, a list of famous photographers included on Twitter highlighted names like Rankin, Pete Souza, and Ami Vitale, but many have since become inactive or deleted their accounts.
- Landscape photographer Dave Morrow, who once had 1.5 million followers, eliminated his entire digital presence in 2018 due to the challenge of proving ownership and receiving compensation in the social media environment.
