Emmet Van Driesche
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notes from the stump

Instagram

1/19/2018

2 Comments

 
Okay, so. I've noticed this thing happening on Instagram the last year or so, ever since they started having the stories feature, where everyone has started putting their personal funny stuff there, where it disappears in a day forever, and then keeps their main account just for the glamorous, serious stuff. I was lamenting to Fiona Glover, a lovely spooncarver in Australia, that it seems like people have started using Instagram differently.

And it got me thinking: what is Instagram for? Not what does it do physically, or how it works, but what purpose does it serve for us, its users? What purpose COULD it serve? I was thinking about this because I recently dove all the way back to the beginning of my feed to do what I often do, a purge of photos I no longer like. I do this on a regular basis for more recent posts, but occasionally I'll go all the way back and remove pictures that don't reflect the current caliber of my work.

What I find when I do this is that while the spoons I thought were so important at the time have completely faded in importance, the value of the personal moments, the small intimate details, has grown immensely. These are the very things that we are now being encouraged to use the stories for, and so instead of creating a record of our life, we are reacting in the moment without capturing anything for the future.

This shouldn't be surprising, because Instagram didn't add this feature because it was better for us, it added this feature to grab users from Snapchat, to dominate that capability.

Similarly, being able to see the likes and number of followers we get or other accounts have is not for our benefit. It's to make using the app more addictive. I sometimes confuse my sense of self worth with the movement of these metrics, which is the stupidest thing in the world and I know it but it still happens!

There is no denying that one of the best things about Instagram for me is interacting with people. Surprisingly, while I started off using the app for inspiration, the relationships I've developed with customers are fast becoming more meaningful and fulfilling than seeing the work of someone I've never had a conversation with. 

Instagram is how I run my business, it's how I give back by sharing what I know, it's how I notice and document the beautiful small things in life in a way that otherwise wouldn't happen, and its a source of meaningful relationships.

That said, it is addictive, can be disruptive to my family life, can be hard on my self-esteem, and if used thoughtlessly could leave me with little to show for it.

Sometimes its good to articulate things. And now I need to go make dinner.

2 Comments
Adam Reynolds link
1/20/2018 12:02:10 pm

As a craftsperson who is starting to focus on making some money from my craft, I'm also thinking about what this social media thing is FOR. Over the years I've been very anti-social media, and I basically joined Instagram just to post my work and look at others' work, and being a very visual medium, it's perfect for that. I'm starting to develop some relationships with customers and other makers on the platform, and like you, I'm starting to think that it's those relationships which are the true value of the medium.

I've been posting very little personal/family content, but I'm thinking I should post more. It can help people to connect with you, and see the person behind the craft. And when you look back at your feed, it's the personal stuff that stands out. Too much, however, and you start losing followers that don't want to see all family stuff all the time.

I don't know about stories. Like you said, it's basically Facebook/Instagram's attempt to dominate SnapChat. I do, however, really enjoy the live video feature. When makers use it, it's a great opportunity to see them at work, and to interact and ask questions.

I've been listening to a certain pottery-specific podcast which focuses on business aspects in addition to artistic and craft ones. One of the themes which comes up repeatedly, and which I wholeheartedly agree with, is that your followers on any social media platform are NOT YOURS, they belong to the platform. At any time, the platform can change how they do things, and if you're totally dependent upon them, you can get screwed. If you ever decide to leave or switch platforms, those followers are left behind. This is why they stress that small-business craftspeople build an email list, and also a website. You own and control your email list, you own and control your website. The social media platforms are used to build a following not dependent upon those platforms. You want to drive people to your website, and you want to ask those people to sign up for your email list.

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Jacques Gallant link
2/7/2018 04:37:26 am

I have looked at Stories meybe three times since it came out. It's an absolute overload of content, Instagram (photos) is enough already.

I love instagram for the challenge to say it with a photo. To capture a moment or celebrate an acheivement in just one image. To make somebody laugh. It's not easy to do. I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy watching the people who pull it off so well.

Overlaying text and drawings on photos and splicing together multiple videos and images spoils this fun.

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    My blog has evolved into a series of short essays on the nature of entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and their overlap. If either of these topics is something you think about, you will probably like this.

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