I remember when like, Deviantart was super fun and sociable. I used to primarily use that site and Gaiaonline, and would have a bunch of people to talk to when I'd log in. I felt more satisfied when I'd finish a drawing and post it because it wasn't just likes and follows, it was friends recognizing the OCs I drew and making relevant jokes and comments.

I miss that!

I'm sure we all know how both of those sites have declined. Gaia has become painfully insignificant and slow, DA algorithm sucks more now and its all so porn-y in the weirdest of ways.

I ended up using Twitter, and still do, for my art posts. Last year there was a moment where people socialized a little more on there with me, but thats cause I got into certain events that brought some of us together. But by now they've all stopped talking to me and I'm just back to being invisible. The rest of what Twitter offers is just very... outraging and often misinformed or misworded headlines and people screaming at each other lol

I'm getting so bored!
I miss how wholesome internet used to be, at least from my experiences. I want a good art-hosting website that is friendly and not mobile-based ;v;


/ramblerattle

You just typed all of my feeling recently into words!
The simple joys just aren't simple anymore, or just aren't joyful. And for what?! The change in how people think? Is it considered old-fashioned!?

I'm on gaia too ; - ;
but like a lot. CB is a scary place. I miss meeting new wholesome people

I think its just a change in generations. By now everyone from before are so busy with work and life, or lost interest in the simple things like old internet joys from the past. We're in our 20's-late 30's and bills are ever looming over us--

The new generations seemingly have less interest in close relations, and only speak in meme (but also, often children still so I run away) XD
My attempts to participate in discord servers is often not successful

@vixen:
Yeahh.. I just made a new DA real quick just to see if its even worth getting into again.
It looks like the filters have gotten better, but still its just another algorithm-y, antisocial platform.

Is it possible to avoid NFT wars by using DA instead of Twitter, I wonder :vanora_worried:
Hardly know how those things work, but just seems to be another reason I'm mildly tempted to deactivate my account entirely

@goblinsandtea:
Yeah, that makes sense! I think people are getting so clouded over numbers and algorithms, and what drama to scream at. There's not very many places to just chill.
Voltra is the closest thing, but sometimes when I'm really itching to be social I feel like I end up just flooding the forums here while maybe just a few people are online who are also trying to find something to do XD
But still, at least its still happy here!

Artfight is the only other thing I really enjoy online, but thats only during on-season in July >>
its less of a social media and more of an art event thing, but their discord can be fun sometimes

@goblinsandtea:
I guess Discord is the closest thing to socializing for me outside of Voltra O:
Its just a matter of finding good servers, like you did!

Artfight discord can definitely get overwhelming, but I try to endure the crazy speeds even if I get ignored. It helps to get your name out there so people start looking at your artfight profile, might end up with new targets or new attacks! Then during off season I tend to play around in the minigames area. Its mostly for drawing motivation, but then people start to recognize my name from years of being around. Havent made any friends but sometimes have fun interactions.

My second one is a seasonal art exchange server. They're incredibly chill and friendly, but dont talk very much. The general channel will be silent for like a week or two until someone finally says something, then there's a conversation, then dies again XD the event itself is where all the attention goes.
(btw if you like art exchange/artfight concepts, the seasonal exchange is open for applications rn! its like a secret santa thing here )

Same. I like the old Deviantart since it feels more casual and less professional-looking in my opinion, until its Eclipse design was revealed. And true, Deviantart users used to have an easier time to make new friends compared to the new Deviantart where there's little to no response when you post your artwork or profile. The whole weird porn-y art thing was.... ehh something even though there are plenty of old porn-y art back then so there's that...

I definately agree with you about Twitter, it used to be fun and there's not too much drama back then but when said site became popular it became a cesspool and really toxic as quack. Then again, Youtube and Tiktok aren't any better since there's too many misinformation and drama just like any other social media site. *shrugs*

Social media nowadays feels mentally draining compared to back then imo.

I used to be part of a small artist community on Gaia some years ago, but as with the passage of time it also faded away. I think I noticed that quite a few people in the group stopped talking to me or acknowledging me once I stopped making art--particularly for them. It was a little bit of a bummer to see so blatantly that I was really only thought of as a cheap art mule, but I'm better off now despite the sourness.

I'm old enough that social media is kind of befuddling to me. I can use it, and participate more passively.
There was a classmate who was very active on TikTok and I just can't help but feel she was the biggest twit I've ever met. It seemed like every week she was doing something to advertise how bad she was at making sound decisions.

If I might add to this social media sucks thread-- DEVIANTART MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEARCH THINGS!
That's where I've always gotten pixels for my forum posts. I'd search up pixel sprites on DA and find ones that allow this sort of use.
But now when I search pixel sprites I get a bunch of random things that has NOTHING to do with the tags I'm searching.

D:<
How am I supposed to keep up with my holiday themes now