2023 Resolutions, Leaving Facebook And The Overall Idea of Social Media

2023 is here for at least another 363 days.

I am going through that whole coming to terms with 2022 being over and done with and a new year starting. Although I welcomed the year in style (heavily drunk), I am currently in the midst of fighting yet another cold to add to my COVID & two already-fought battles against colds to my collection.

With every new year, I follow the cliche of looking back and ponder. 2022… My productivity was very lacklustre. I added many great pieces to my already extensive portfolio, but I was so exhausted, artistically. But because of this, I have a new burning desire to create what I want and to make it worthwhile. A lot exciting things to happen this year… All while in black and white and portrait style.

I thought I’d start my year by leaving behind a social media that has done nothing but cause issues for me since 13. But I had been so oblivious to it. I look back and I realise just how much trouble it has caused me. So… I decided to deactivate the account. Every now and again (only for emergencies) I will log back in and retrieve whatever it is that I need but I will deactivate it again. It may be an oxymoron thing to do considering I still use Instagram & WhatsApp (both owned by Meta). But we all know once that Meta itself will cease to exist. But WhatsApp and Instagram will live on. But the Facebook machine will die out within the next five years or so (so long as Suckerberg is stuck in his Metaverse tinted glasses).

2022 helped me understand how I can cope with my smartphone addiction. And my ADHD meds certinaly help to deal with it. At the start of the year I was averaging 7-8 hours on-screen time. Come a year along, it’s around the 4 hour 30 miniute mark. Almost half. Social media like TikTok and Facebook played a part in that. But all you need is a day where you go ‘what is this purpose?’ and you come to realise that there is none. It’s all useless. Except Instagram. Please stay (and hopefully stay true to yourself as much as possible).

2023 is going to be special. I can feel it. However, for now, we can only hope and manifest those feelings.

Forever and always

Ollie x

New Website, New Ideas, Bright Future

Hi all,

I have finally revamped my website after taking it down in March this year (2022). After seeing Squarespace taking £15 from my bank account over the months, and finally honing my portfolio, I decided it was a good time to finally combine all my endeavors and have something to point everyone to instead of shoving an Instagram link or a PurplePort message.

This website is to serve one point - to be a hub of all things creative that was made by yours truly.

I am in the middle of the early stages of putting together a zine. It may or may not be made, but let’s see eh? But, for now, enjoy the site, and feel free to let your eyes wonder!

Ollie x