Many celebrated photographers are pulling back or quitting social media not from vanity but necessity says Tom May. The social platforms, once a tool for sharing craft and building connection, have mutated into relentless algorithmic machines demanding constant content, quick scroll-stopping hooks, and relentless frequency of posting, which are conditions antithetical to the slow, considered work photography often requires. Esteemed artists feel drained by the demand for dopamine hits from likes and views while losing creative autonomy and control over their work. On top of this are issues around image theft, loss of attribution, and platforms’ licensing terms that strip away ownership or allow usage without compensation. The piece suggests that for many, the cost, mental, creative, financial, is too high, so stepping back from social media isn’t retreat but a means of survival in a media ecosystem that too often values reach over artistry.
This piece is something that caught my attention, so I thought I’d capture it as a tidbit. The OpenAI synopsis above is as of 9/22/2025 and may have an errant AI hallucination or two. Please support the original author(s) and visit their site for the whole story and accurate information:
Words that ring very true. I don’t use social media much at all anymore. The odd photo on IG and my blog, that’s it.