How Social Media is Killing Gen Z Artists
In a world where everything is curated to perfection, social media is slowly choking the life out of young, aspiring artists. Gen Z is growing up in a digital space that has been sculpted for flawlessness, a place where vulnerability feels like a death sentence. The result? A generation of artists afraid to fail, hesitant to take risks, and conditioned to prioritize likes, shares, and trends over genuine growth and creativity.
When you’re young and just starting out, your art will inevitably have flaws. It’s part of the process. But what Gen Z kid in today’s world would willingly open themselves up to that kind of scrutiny? If you sing the wrong note, make a joke that offends, or express an opinion that doesn’t land, the internet’s cancel culture is waiting to pounce. It’s one thing to make a mistake within the safe confines of your local community, where people know you and might offer you a second chance. It’s another to be judged by millions of faceless strangers with no personal investment in your growth, no willingness to forgive. We’ve seen it time and time again: canceling trends, but forgiveness rarely does.
In dance classes, it’s no longer about technique, development, or exploring the art form. Instead, it’s about auditioning for the invisible eyes of social media. Many teachers, who used to be focused on training and honing dancers, are now pushed to be content creators, choreographing purely for the camera. Students do a brief warm-up, then spend the next 40 minutes rehearsing a combination designed to be filmed. It’s not about mastering technique or growing as a dancer—it’s about making sure you look flawless for those 15 seconds of fame. These combinations don’t travel across the floor; they don’t challenge dancers in the ways they used to. They’re one-shot, stationary performances made for social media. Can you imagine the pressure of posting a video knowing you weren’t the best in the class?
Without proper teachers or time to grow, how can these young artists ever get to be the best? During my time at Skyline College, I watched artists find their passion for performing arts. They had room to fail, to learn, and to improve. In today’s climate, it’s hard to picture a Gen Z artist thriving in that environment. The pressure for perfection is relentless. Social media demands that you be great from the get-go, leaving no room for missteps or learning curves. And if your content garners attention, heaven forbid it goes viral—because that’s when the real hunt begins.
On social media, everyone’s a critic, especially those with no discernible talent themselves. Viral moments are often fueled by negativity, with trolls and bots ready to pick apart anything you post. What young dancer, musician, or artist wants to open themselves up to that kind of public critique? Even reality shows, which for years have promised aspiring artists a chance at superstardom, have proven that mass opinion doesn’t equate to long-term success. Millions may vote for a contestant, but only a handful of those artists ever make it. Why? Because likes and views don’t translate to genuine artistry or a sustainable career.
Gen Z knows how the algorithm works, but the algorithm isn’t designed to reward creativity. It rewards what’s trending. And trending, by definition, is being part of the crowd, not standing out from it. Ever watch an influencer with millions of followers and wonder why their multi-million-dollar house looks so sterile? No personal photos, no books, no real personality. It’s almost as if the house—like the persona—isn’t really theirs. That’s the game social media plays. It’s about creating followers, not fostering creativity.
Tech companies have infiltrated every corner of the art world now, including streaming services. They aren’t interested in creating art—they want to control it. They don’t need it to be profitable; they just need it to serve their agenda. And the sad part? Many young artists have bought into this narrative that they need social media to succeed. Platforms tell them they can’t make it without trending, without going viral, without playing the algorithm’s game.
I think back to the days when artists could post process videos, share works in progress, and receive genuine feedback from their peers. It was a space for growth, where opinions and constructive criticism coexisted. Now, social media has turned into a battlefield, where hateful comments go viral, and creativity is stifled in the name of “fitting in.” Producers and casting directors, incredibly, seem to be listening to these voices, paying attention to people who have no skin in the game—people who are never going to buy a ticket to a Broadway show or visit a gallery.
What’s even more disheartening is that artists, who should be encouraged to be unique, to stand out, are being told the opposite. The algorithm doesn’t reward individuality; it rewards conformity. Artists are being led to believe that the only way to succeed is by playing along with the tech giants' rules—rules set by people who have no understanding of what it means to create art.
What Gen Z artists need to know is that real creativity comes from being special, not from being a follower. The narrative that you can’t make it without social media is false. It’s possible to create without the platform, to grow without the constant pressure of likes and views. The tech industry may want to control art, but art will always find a way to thrive outside those constraints. It’s time we remind young artists that their value isn’t determined by an algorithm, and that true creativity requires time, space, and the freedom to make mistakes.