As someone who is highly involved in social media, I am aware that what you post becomes an image of "who you are". With every upload to Instagram, you may attract a specific audience or a bigger audience depending on what you post. The sad truth is that often times an artist may not receive as much attention, as a naked body.

To promote my YouTube channel, BeautybyMadisonx3 ,I use Instagram to share my weekly makeup looks. Instagram is a social network where you choose what photos you want to share with the world. As I was browsing through the "Explore" page, I noticed a 16-year-old girl dancing in front of a camera with her chest exposed. The amount of likes she got were four times higher than my makeup looks. I thought to myself "Maybe I would have to belittle myself, in order to gain proper propaganda for my channel." This is where thinking twice comes in handy because if I would have posed half-naked on social media, I would not be promoting my channel; I would be revealing my body and not promoting my feelings, talent, or passion for art. Everyone has a technique of how they choose to promote, but I realized that she was attracting a negative audience.

The comments under her video were hateful, and degrading to women. She was drawing the attention of people who were only interested in terrorizing the way she moved and what was under her clothing. In response to these comments, she posts another photo of her tongue out with a caption, saying how people hate on who she is. Whatever you decide to post becomes only another way for people to know who you are. I am all for being comfortable with your body, but if you show the public a small side of you and not the rest, what makes you think that people will know who you are? Instagram only shows a tiny surface of your persona. If you really want people to know what you bring to the table, share photos that will show that.

If you are trying to promote yourself as an artist, it helps to draw the right crowd. There are over 300 million people who use Instagram everyday,and you should use that number to reach out to people who are beneficial to you. If you are trying to show the world your talents, don't assume that you have to belittle yourself in order to gain followers or likes. Respect yourself enough to know that you can gain recognition through your talent. The spotlight will only come with time and effort and people will only realize who you are if you build a consistent image of your talent. Become an original inspiration and strive for a positive audience. Stay true to you.