Until now, Twitter has been one of the best social networks for creatives, but it’s impossible to have been on the internet in the past few months and not have read at least a tweet or two about the biggest news since LinkedIn added and then removes stories… Elon Musk purchasing the giant communication platform Twitter.

Regardless of what you think about this development, it has to be said that Twitter hasn’t been a network that creatives have been able to thrive on for quite some time.

Constant algorithm changes, the endless debate of whether you should or shouldn’t use hashtags, and a plethora of other issues have made Twitter an incredibly difficult platform for artists and designers to enjoy and share their work.

And for many, the recent purchase by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is the final straw. There’s a good chance that, if you’re reading this, you’re finding yourself in the same position.

But with Twitter currently being one of the biggest social networks around, where else can creatives make their digital home?

In this article, we’re looking at five different social media platforms that are perfect for creatives! Let’s get into them…

TikTok

You might have some reservations about TikTok, which is normal. It’s just teenagers dancing and lip-syncing to the latest pop song, right? Well yes, but there’s a lot more to TikTok than cheesy dances.

TikTok has become one of the biggest video-sharing platforms in the world, with much of its meteoric growth taking place in the last few years. So it should come as no surprise that with such a large userbase, plenty of communities have sprung up and made themselves at home.

A quick look through the creative side of TikTok will show you just how many creatives are there! Whether you’re a potter, graphic designer, painter, calligrapher, musician, 3D artist or anything else, you’re bound to find plenty of like-minded people there who share the same passions.

Check out all TikTok has to offer here.

Instagram

To be honest, I’d be surprised if you haven’t already joined Instagram, seeing as it’s one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. But, if you haven’t, you’re missing out on plenty of tools and features specifically designed for creatives. Alongside the standard photo and video posts, you’ve also got reels, stories, live streaming, IGTV, guides and more.

Plus, much like TikTok, Instagram has a HUGE community of creatives sharing their work pretty much every day. So even if you don’t plan on sharing your own, this platform can act like an alternative Pinterest; a place where you come to get inspiration for your own work.

Keep in mind that the algorithm on Instagram has transitioned in favouriting video content. That’s not to say you can’t build a following with static posts, but it’ll take a bit more work. But if you’re willing to put in the legwork, you can reap huge benefits from Instagram!

Learn more and sign up for Instagram here.

Counter Social

It’s been said that Counter Social is the no-nonsense alternative to Twitter, and in fact does share a similar format. Instead of the 280-character limit of Twitter, Counter Social gives you a comparably hefty 500 characters to play with.

Additionally, Counter Social has no ads, bots, or trolls, and has a “zero tolerance to hostile nations”, according to the site itself.

If you’ve ever used TweetDeck, the alternate way of browsing Twitter, you’ll already be familiar with Counter Social’s desktop interface. However, if you’re not, this can prove to be a bit of a learning curve.

And much like Twitter, Counter Social also boasts a very handy feature for creatives. COSO groups are communities that you can join (or build) based on your tastes, interests and preferences. It’s this feature that makes Counter Social a very interesting platform for creatives to share their work, network, and find new opportunities.

If you have doubts about whether or not it’s worth putting your time into building up an account on Counter Social, it recently crashed due to high demand, so it’s pretty safe to say that interest in this platform won’t be waning any time soon.

If to learn more about Counter Social and how it works, check out the website here.

Substack

If you’re a creative writer, a platform like Substack might be appealing to you. According to its website, Substack “makes it simple to start a publication that makes money from subscriptions.” At first glance, Substack looks like a simple newsletter platform, but actually when you dive a bit deeper, you’ll find that it’s so much more than that.

Because this platform is very text-centric, it makes it perfect for writers of all types, including (but not limited to) bloggers, podcasters, finance writers, writers, comic creators and local news journalists. The important thing to remember is that regardless of what form of writing you’re into, there’s a place for it on Substack.

I mentioned that Substack likes to promote the fact that users are able to make money via the platform – and this is what sets it apart from the other four platforms on this list. So if you’re looking to showcase your work, and potentially make a bit of money from it too, Substack might be the ideal place for you!

Learn more about Substack here.

Mastodon

If you’re looking for something very similar to Twitter, Mastodon is a good choice. It follows the exact same format of micro-blogging with limited characters, but also has unique and adaptable policies which are known as “Mastodon Instances.”

Interestingly, when you first create an account, you’re asked a whole bunch of questions about what you want to appear on your feed – things like NSFW, span, links to illegal content, etc. – and depending on the answers you give you’ll be given the option to join an “Instance” that’s specifically tailored to your interests and preferences.

Out in the big world of Mastodon, there are plenty of Instances dedicated to creativity in all its forms. So if you’re a graphic designer looking to connect with other graphic designers, photographers looking for a photography community, or anything in between, you’ll be sure to find an Instance that’s perfect for you.

Get to know more about Mastodon here.

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