Scroll Smarter: Crafting a Healthier Online Life

Boundaries and practices for artists and entertainers who want to feel good online again

By Daevyd Pepper

Why social media feels so complicated (especially for artists)

Social media isn’t inherently good or bad. It can connect, inspire, and build community one day, and overwhelm the next. Even the most grounded can be thrown off balance by the constant stream of information, opinions, and curated lifestyles.

Let’s acknowledge the positives:

• Connection and community: Staying in touch with colleagues, fans, and collaborators.
• Opportunities and visibility: Booking gigs, promoting work, finding grants or auditions.
• Activism and education: Engaging with important movements and learning from others.
• Creative inspiration: Discovering new work, trends, and voices.

But we must also acknowledge the downsides:

• Information overload: An endless deluge of updates and news items.
• Negative self-comparison: Comparing yourself to curated online “realities.”
• Loss of privacy and rest: Feeling pressure to be “on” and share constantly.
• Misinformation and conflict: Navigating harmful content.
• Burnout: Especially for freelancers and creatives who feel the pressure to be constantly “visible.”

If this resonates, you’re not alone. Studies link high social media use to mental health challenges like low mood, poor sleep, and loneliness. For artists,  the stakes feel even higher.

Despite these challenges, social media can be beneficial. So, how can we repair our relationship with it to support our wellbeing, artistry, and offline life? Let’s consider these strategies:

1. Be clear about your intentions

My own social media use began without clear intention, leading to both benefits and challenges. Now, I’m more intentional. Before opening social media, ask: Why am I using this platform today? Connection? Sharing work? Inspiration? Entertainment?

Using social media without intention is like going to a store without a list: you might find good things, but you’ll likely buy things you don’t need, forget essentials, and overspend. Clear intentions empower aligned choices and help you avoid unwanted territory.

Try writing down an intention: “I use Instagram to connect with collaborators and share my music weekly.” Then, when you open the app, ask: “Am I honouring that purpose?”

2. Set time-based boundaries

Allocate specific time blocks for social media and prioritize time off it.

• Use in-app tools to set daily limits.
• Establish “scroll-free zones” like the dinner table or bedroom.
• Avoid apps for the first and last hour of your day.
• Use focus modes or app blockers like One Sec or Freedom

Example: Set 30-minute windows at lunch and 7 PM. Outside those times, your attention is yours.

3. Curate your feed

Think of your feed as your environment. Like your rehearsal space, it should feel safe, inspiring, and intentional. Slow down and critically evaluate content.

• Ask: Does this account/content support my growth or joy?
• Ask: Is this account/content from trusted sources?
• Notice how your body feels while scrolling; mute or unfollow accounts that make you feel “less than.”
• Prioritize uplifting, informative, or energizing content.

Use the platform’s features (like the three dots on posts) to tell the algorithm what works for you. Despite common belief, the algorithm isn’t against you. It learns from your activity (likes, time spent on posts, etc.) to tailor your experience. Passive engagement gives the platform control.

Challenge yourself to a week of critical, slow engagement, using all the app’s features to create a positive experience.

Disclaimer: This isn’t about creating an echo chamber. If you use social media for news, choose your sources carefully. Consider alternatives like podcasts and newsletters. Social media timelines can be chaotic and misleading.

4. Be mindful of your body

Notice how your body feels during and after scrolling. Tension? Tired eyes? Racing thoughts? This is valuable information.

• Take breaks when you’re already feeling down or overwhelmed.
• Avoid doom-scrolling before bed—blue light and stressful content disrupts sleep.
• Remind yourself, “This is a highlight reel, not the whole story,” when self-comparison arises.
• Ask: How can I protect my peace while staying connected?

5. Create social media-free spaces

Sometimes, you need space. Designate scroll-free zones in your home or create distance from your phone.

• Make your bedroom a scroll-free zone.
• Put your phone in another room during practice or writing time.

6. Check the cost of engagement

In these challenging times, it’s easy to encounter online content we strongly disagree with. While it’s important to stand up against hate, the comment section isn’t always the best place. Not every opinion requires a reply. Not every fight is yours.

If a post sparks anger, before commenting:

• Ask: Is this person open to dialogue, expressing an opinion, or seeking conflict?
• What emotional or energetic cost will this have for me?
• Is there a quieter action I can take (report, mute, unfollow)?

You can still stand up for your values without sacrificing your peace. Consider reporting hateful posts and taking your activism offline.

Reflection Questions for Artists

Pause. Breathe. Consider these questions:

• How much time do I spend on social media daily? Am I okay with that?
• When do I feel better or worse after being online?
• What boundaries would support my art, body, and peace of mind?
• What do I want to use social media for now, not in the past?

Final Curtain Call: You Are More Than Your Feed

You are a whole person, a whole artist, with a full spectrum of experiences, moods, talents, and gifts. Social media is just one tool—you decide its role in your journey.

Boundaries aren’t walls; they’re invitations to be more intentional, connected, and yourself—online and off.