Bringing this back because I was alerted to another repost-- this time the Facebook Group The Ineffables. Yeah, I’m gonna start calling them out by name. They deleted my comments and my image as if nothing had happened.
Listen to this, just as an example how reposting-- even with the link back to the artist, sucks:
It was the Baby Omens picture, where you see adult Crowley caring for an angelic Baby Aziraphale, and adult Aziraphale caring for a demonic baby Crowley. It was meant as something cute, a silly de-aged spell AU, and I added more pictures and more lore to that story in my posts under a hashtag.
My followers got the story, and participated, and asked questions, and we built a story together through several days of interaction.
But now, this picture was reposted without description to a facebook fan site, and people there started a discussion on how it was “weird” that characters that are usually hypersexualised had to raise each other. Ok like, first, what the hell? Second- Way to blame me for an entire fandom, geez. But mostly? Third: Without context people assume the wrong thing.
And that’s how the cutest, most innocent picture, reposted without the consent and control of the artist, makes people jump to wrong conclusions on the art, and the artist.
As for more immediate, monetary consequences? Like many people, I just lost my job, and I’m putting all my hopes and dreams on the Fantasy novel I’m releasing in the following weeks. I’m gearing all my efforts into a promotional campaign through my social media. IF PEOPLE TAKE MY BEST WORK OUT OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA, I DON’T GET NEW FOLLOWERS, I LOSE BUYERS.
“But Talhí!” You’re going to say. “I linked back to your account! People are going to follow the link!”
Well, first, you’re wrong, and second, I hate you. Third:
EVERY CLICK IS IMPORTANT.
This is something you learn in website design. Every click a person has to do reduces the chance they see your content.
So, let’s say a person is on instagram, and searches for Aziraphale/Crowley art. If the same picture is posted twice, once on the gallery of the original artist, and another time, on a fan group that reposts stolen art, IT SPLITS THE CHANCES OF THAT PERSON GOING TO THE ARTIST’S ACCOUNT BY TWO. Now add all the fan groups who repost art. Now add in the algorithms who promote highly viewed and commented pictures.
People are lazy with clicks. If they can see all the content they want in an account that steals images, they won’t search for the artists. A very minuscule minority will follow the link. That’s not enough.
IF I MAKE ART, I DESERVE ALL THE VIEWS AND ALL THE CLICKS.
Other thing-- They link back to where they find it. That’s usually tumblr. But I don’t want people to be linked to my tumblr. It’s a dying platform and at this point, I use is as a personal journal. I don’t want people from the outside to come to my tumblr. I’d rather them follow my more curated and professional accounts, like Instagram, Twitter, and my Facebook group.
Even by linking back they remove whatever control I have, the control I NEED to have, to maintain my online presence.
Anyway, if you see any of my art reposted and the social media account is not mine (it’s easy, THEY’RE ALL UNDER MY REAL NAME WHICH IS UNIQUE.) please flag it.
(I only make exceptions for 1- translations, and usually people come and ask first, and 2- The feminism 101 comic, that I allow to be reposted freely.)
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