Impact of Social Media on Creativity

By AKANBI, Grace Oluwatomiisin

Consider social media as a large, busy neighborhood where everyone is familiar with you. You can make new acquaintances there, share your life, and connect with old ones. Social media sites such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are like distinct streets in this neighborhood, each having peculiar personalities. Like every neighborhood, social media has its share of positive and negative aspects. It may be a great location to get ideas, meet new people, and pick up new abilities. On the other hand, it can also be annoying and even depressing.
It’s crucial to use social media wisely because of this. It’s a good idea to explore other areas of the internet world, just as you wouldn’t spend all of your time on one street in your neighborhood. And never forget that the offline world is just as significant as the virtual one.

The relationship between social media and creativity is complex and multifaceted, but it’s clear that this digital platform has the power to both ignite and stifle creative sparks. Social media is a digital realm that is teeming with information, connections, and trends. It has undeniably woven itself into the fabric of modern student life. Its influence stretches far beyond casual scrolling and liking posts, profoundly impacting various aspects of student experience, including creativity..

Social media may be a great place to foster innovation, on the one hand. Users are encouraged to think creatively by the abundance of inventive content available on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Exposure to a variety of viewpoints, artistic mediums, and concepts can spark creativity and promote experimentation. Social media also gives students a platform to share their skills and get criticism, which encourages them to improve their work and builds a sense of community. These platforms frequently host collaborative projects and challenges that foster teamwork and the creation of novel, creative solutions.

However, social networking does not always have a favorable effect on creativity. Overindulgence in carefully chosen content can result in “compare and despair,” a condition in which students are preoccupied with comparing their own work to the seemingly flawless works of others. This might undermine one’s self-esteem and obstruct the creative flow. Additionally, students may feel pressured to follow popular trends rather than following their own artistic vision, which can impede creativity and authenticity due to the obligation to maintain a specific online persona. Social media’s addictive qualities can also take valuable time and energy away from creative endeavors, giving students less opportunities to explore their ideas and hone their talents.

It is important to understand that social media is a tool, and that the way one uses a tool determines how it works.Through deliberate curation of their digital environment and establishment of limits, learners can leverage the advantages of social media while simultaneously reducing its adverse effects. In the digital age, developing creativity requires interacting with a variety of content, looking for inspiration from a range of sources, and putting more emphasis on one’s own development than on approval from others. In the end, it all comes down to striking a balance between producing and consuming, between fostering individualism and interacting with others.

Consider Maya, an enthusiastic, budding artist who enjoys painting and drawing and looks around her for inspiration frequently. She joins Instagram in order to interact with other artists and share her work. Originally, she was inspired to try out different methods and styles from the inspiration she got from gorgeous works of well-known artists on her timeline. She even worked on a digital art project with an artist she met online. But as Maya used instagram frequently, the incessant comparison began to wear on her. She began to doubt the worth of her own effort with each flawless post. Rather than picking up her brushes, she found herself scrolling through feeds for hours on end and her once-enjoyable activity started to feel like work. Maya made the decision to stop using social media after realizing the detrimental effects. Her priorities were going to art classes, going to museums, and spending time outside. Remarkably, she became more creative. She began experimenting with various media and came into a distinct style for her artwork. Upon her return to Instagram, she adopted a fresh outlook, utilizing the medium to showcase her personal development instead of looking for approval. Maya’s narrative demonstrates the nuanced connection between creativity and social media. Even though it can inspire and foster connections, it’s crucial to strike a good balance and safeguard one’s creative space.

Through an awareness of the intricate relationship between creativity and social media, one may make the most of this potent medium to further different abilities and forge a strong sense of identity as a creator.