Hey BOT, Look at me!

Social context: why are people still using social media? From a genius idea to first gather a whole planet into a platform, to later on exploit (abuse) this platform towards bombing users with ‘promotional information’ (short: spam). Nifty tricks from the' ‘techgiants’ ( yeah, I love to use this word). But what about the actual users? Are they looking for information? Are they just blindfolded scrolling to amuse themselves in their boring lives? Are family connections still relevant when it comes down to ‘follow’ eachother for the sake of seeing holiday pictures?

Articles are piling up on the biggest fora about mental health issues, which are, for a big part, to blame on these social platforms. Users feel like they’re forced into keep using these platforms due to ‘the fear of missing out-syndrome’. But let’s keep it honest here. What are we missing? Spam? The next millionth video from some DJ that’s been captured by a widescreen cam, that bounces along with the millionth AI generated Techno track on the probably millionth mediocre sell-out festival? In my case: the next useless video of me, posting a crappy video about what I do? Yeah, it really feels like we’re trapped in some forced digital world. There’s no more authenticity to be found on these platforms. Let’s admit, we’re putting out content to please algorithms. When you look down to this as an outsider, it should actually make us laugh. Most artists don’t want to be recorded when performing, it’s just a select group of wannabees who think they’re pretty fly.

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It’s noticable that more and more creators are slowly stepping away from this all. Not to abandon their loyal fanbase but to focus more on their work, art, music or whatever craft they’re doing. The medium that once was super useful, has grown into the worst platform possible. Why? As it’s in some human’s nature to make everything look better than it’s actually is, and,.. especially Instagram has the exact tools (third party fake boost devices) to provide this fake world, this platform of course is the exact place to be for all of these ‘posers’. Buying followers, buying likes,… It’s so obvious when such profiles post content online, they receive a sea of empty comments, thumbs_ups/likes from actually ‘urm’ non-existent followers. Hilarious and ridiculous at the same time, no? On one hand the users are buying a fake world around them and on the other hand they are creating content for that exact fake world they’ve paid for? Owkee… Quite silly.. Hey bot: look at me!

The continuous variating algo’s to make everything ‘work smoother’ are interpreted wrong by the majority of users. They don’t work, the techgiants just write these sneaky codes to keep users hooked. Consume digits with one goal in mind: make money, make more money, make an awful lot of money. We are the product. They consume us.

Should artists or producers be on this boat in the first place? Let’s say, as a producer: besides a chatbox, there’s not much left to gain ( from a ‘business’ pov ). Your content isn’t showed to the right public. The algo’s have their own plan to show your content ( and yes, even promoted content has become pretty useless). The trend of building a network has been insanely exploited too. Is it somehow needed to suck up at every artist’s profile that ‘might’ fit your own ‘work’? Do we really need to connect? Keep in mind, a vast majority of users is just online to drian your knowledge, suck you dry from your energy, troll, spoil, waste time and whatnot?! Many among us producers/dj’s/artists feel like it’s a necessity to constantly network, connect, collab and so on.
The only way to focus on your hobby or passion is to stay away as far as possible from distractions. Does this mean to ignore every signal or message coming at you, no! I mean, when you’re living a normal life besides your passion you should invest in your own time management, to create space to work on your projects. More than often, social media is just a useless activity.

The absolutely worst thing that has happened is that the whole clubculture has entered an era, where ticketsales rule above everything else. How on earth is it possible that the people scouting for music/acts/talents ( the so called promotors), pick the artists based on ‘social profile’. Hey, that DJ has 75k followers… Sleeve tattoo? Yep! Does clown acts? Yep! Any music related to the artist? Nope! Fine, she/he’s in! Ok, I’m maybe cutting corners here and probably not every club works this way but the sad truth is, that this more than often does work in this way.
I know a few clubs who did'n’t sell their soul so big shouts to these people, keeping the culture alive.

Anyway…..

Honestly, I think social media was great but they’ve ruined it for most users. The bots: let’s dance, shall we?

Websites will become more relevant again than ever. You don’t have to agree. That’s the freedom of a blog I guess..

I had this little idea to force artists to play with vinyl in clubs: It will filter out the people who actually don’t spend money on music produced by hard working producers. It will filter out the dj’s who actually suck at dj’ing but have luck they can pre-record/sync in this digital era, It will bring money into the hands of the artists due to increased vinyl sales. It will improve the digital modern DJ’s strenght and overall health to drag around recordboxes again. Win win?

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to feed your bots!

S.K.O.V.