This is a free preview of a monologue episode of the Thoughts on Illustration podcast. Become a paid supporter on Patreon for as low as $3/month — www.patreon.com/tomfroese
What if social media isn’t actually social anymore—and what if that changes how creatives should use it?
In this monologue episode, I reflect on a growing realization I’ve been wrestling with for years: social media has quietly shifted from a space for sharing and connection into something much closer to corporate media. And many independent creatives have been doing a lot of unpaid work for big tech without fully realizing it.
I talk candidly about my own experience building audiences on Instagram, YouTube, and this podcast—and why the familiar promise of “just keep sharing and it will pay off” no longer feels like a fair trade. I unpack the gambling-like dynamics of algorithms, attention, and hope, and explain the one big mindset shift I’m making as I head into 2026.
This episode isn’t about quitting social media. It’s about rethinking our relationship to it, getting clearer about what we’re actually selling, and using these platforms more intentionally—as business tools, not creative homes.
🙏 A huge thank-you to all paid supporters on Patreon and on Spotify. Your support makes these thoughtful, independent episodes possible.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why social media now functions more like corporate media than a social space
How algorithms turned “sharing” into gambling
Why the old promise of free publicity no longer works for most creatives
My own experience building large followings—and what I’ve actually gotten back
The big shift: from content creator to business operator
Why the “look what I made” approach to sharing isn’t enough
How clarifying your product and your customer changes everything
What this mindset shift means for creatives heading into 2026
⚫️ Listen to the full episode on Patreon for reflection questions, extended discussion, and more. 🟢 You can also subscribe to paid episodes on Spotify.
SHOW LINKS
🎨 Inky.af — My class on creating expressive, inky illustrations using analogue techniques in Affinity (now free forever) — http://tomfroese.com/teaching/inkyaf
📗 Drawing Is Important — Book preorder available now — http://geni.us/DrawingisImportant
HOW TO SUPPORT/LISTEN/READ
If you’d like to hear the full version of monologue episodes like this one:
Join on Patreon for as low as $3/month
Become a paid subscriber on Spotify ($2.99/month)
I also post monologues as full, paid articles on Medium.
FIND ME ELSEWHERE
My New Book! Drawing is Important! — tomfroese.com/links — look for the green book cover
Work and Classes — tomfroese.com
Instagram — instagram.com/mrtomfroese
Daily Drawings — instagram.com/drawingisimportant
In other news
DRAWING IS IMPORTANT — NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
My new book, Drawing Is Important, is your guide to making drawing a meaningful daily habit. Through stories, insights, and exercises, it helps you draw more often—with less pressure and more joy. Available Spring 2026 — Pre-order now! The first 500 orders get a free hand-signed book plate! Look for “get pre-order prizes” after clicking the link.
