One of my biggest struggles over the past few months has been figuring out how to connect with people online in a meaningful way.

I’ve been trying to stay active on Instagram because that’s where most people seem to be, and it’s where I get the most engagement. At the beginning of this month, I actually felt quite optimistic about the platform. I discovered several inspiring artists, made a few lovely connections, and even found an opportunity to learn more about art that I’m planning to apply for.

But very quickly, I was reminded of what Instagram really is.

It’s not built for connection. It’s built for content. For keeping people scrolling, engaged, and glued to the platform for as long as possible. Honestly, I don’t even think we should call it “social media” anymore, because there’s very little that feels truly social about it.

But then… what’s the alternative?

Pinterest? That’s for inspiration and selling.
Facebook? I can bear the negativity and pointless arguments there.
Cara? Does anyone even use it?
Substack? Isn’t that just blogs mixed with pressure to monetise everything?
TikTok? I’m too old for that chaos.
Did I miss any other short-lived platforms?

Sometimes it feels like we’re all drowning in content. Personally, I would much rather read a book or go outside than spend hours scrolling. Wouldn’t you?

The difficult part is that I do want to make it as an artist. I want to find my people. But I don’t want to contribute to this endless hamster wheel of content production just to make corporations richer.

So what do I do? How can I meaningfully connect with people?

Honestly, I’m still figuring that out.

Right now, I’m experimenting and trying different things slowly to see what works and feels right. That’s actually one of the reasons I’m writing this post.

I’m not a writer, I’m a visual artist. I can barely keep up with replying to messages from my mum (sorry mum… and everyone else). But I do have this website. And maybe nobody will read this, but it’s my platform, and I can do whatever I want here.

I don’t have to make videos using songs I hate.
I don’t have to post three times a day just so people can actually see my work.
And I don’t end up trapped in an hour-long scrolling session full of content that only leaves me angry or exhausted.

Writing blog posts feels strangely nostalgic. It’s very 2005. But honestly… maybe that’s not a bad thing. Maybe going backwards is sometimes the right way forward.

The Herbal Project

I’m trying one more thing to find my kind of people. I created a herbal project for people who love medicinal plants and botanical art. I want to make it into a place where people can learn together and share their experiences without the constant toxicity of social media. Perhaps this will be the answer. And if you are dealing with similar issues as I am, maybe you could try something similar and turn your passion into a community. Finally, it might become a perfect way to connect with people.

And in case you are also a plant fan, you can check out the project here.

What do you think about all this? Are you also trying to find your way to connect to people? I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts either in the comments or in a private message.