To social or not?

A lot happens on the internet, these days we are not sure any of it is real. Is this written by a human? is that pic generated by a machine? is that video real? The only time we can guarantee reality is if we switch off media. This brings me to my morning thoughts – After using the internet and social media for 30 years is it time to switch off?

As a photographer its not an easy question. Afterall deep inside arent we all looking for some type of recognition for our work. Where do we get that recognitionif its not online? If i think of my 2 all time most inspirationally cliche photogrpahers Fan Ho and Garry Winogrand then how the fuck did they get recognition. The internet wasnt around. Did they care for recognition and just follow their artistic direction?

What brings me to this point in my journey as a human. I once was getting up to 600 likes oer photo on instagram then suddenyl it dropped to 100 if i was lucky then another moment in time and i started getting barely 20 likes per post. Has my art become 10000% worse? I dont think so, i think my ability and experience has made me a better photogrpaher. So the big internet companies are deciding who is going to get the likes and the recognition and yet its not based on quality or effort. It can also just retune the algorythym and then it changes again. Now, I can generate more likes by making a photo of a sunset or use nudity but none of those are difficult or satisfying to make. Or i can pay the internet companies money to promote my work. I feel sick at this point. To think i should pay Mark Zuckerberg or Google money to have my content shared. I cannot imagine a more depressive or fake way to live as a human.

I enter a cross road and not with my mind totally made up yet. However i will always take pics and record videos. It is one of the few things i find enjoyable. Where i share my content and with who is a big question. I can choose to disconnect and lose 20 pairs of eyeballs looking at my art or I can continue posting hoping for a algo change that favours me or i can pay Mark Zuckerberg and the like to give me fake views, bought views and feel like a cheap scammer tricking myself that people like my content more. If i stop using the internet will my life improve?