Reposting and why I stopped

Since 2016, @roze.volca has always been an internet collage. It was a place where I could store all the cool things I’d collected from different parts of the world wide web, in one spot. What it became was a place for stoners and all drug lovers alike to scroll endlessly, finding new weird internet worm holes to fall into. I wanted there to be a direct path because what if they wanna be obsessed too???
Like - let them.

My face when people text me when there’re high.

It made instagram fun & engaging - until it got messy.

Top cannabis accounts took note and started doing the same, moving away from creating their own content, relying on reposts from real artists to sell their products and media views.

Some would have the audacity to put their own logos on work (1) that had absolutely nothing to do with them, while others tag partners / agencies that also had no involvement. (2)

Others would even go as far as making poorly executed collages so they can label it as “art” but tag 40 other high-following accounts for the likes. (3)

Don’t get me started on losing the original credit and how little brands will give a shit to find who actually made the art

THEY ARE ABOUT TO GET SALES FROM.

That’s what it all boils down to.
Sales, views, clicks, eyes, & data.
Let that simmer for a sec.

Reposting on Instagram makes creative murky.

Now I’m not one to bring up a problem without a solution. The next time a bigger platform uses YOUR work, politely say:

“Thanks for the feature! Means a lot you support small artist. Mind if I see the analytics of how well my work did on your platform? ”

— you, because its your work.

If you aren’t familiar with analytic: As the artist - you should be looking at the “Actions taken from this post”. What that is telling you is YOUR work got XXX amount of people on to THEIR website where they then market THEIR goods by entryway of YOUR work.

The deed has been done regardless. They got their clicks, you got ExPoSuRe, and at the end of the day that is YOUR WORK THEY USED to bring more eyes to them. Whether you want to rip them a new one or use this opportunity to work with them, use that information as you will, but I believe you have a right to ask for your analytics & insights because they wouldn’t have gotten the clicks without you.