With the Arts and Bloom festival taking place on Apr. 10-11 in downtown McKinney, it is important to consider the impact of social media on art. In an age dominated by algorithms, the purpose of art has changed. Instead of communicating emotions and provoking thought, art has been diminished to a tool for capturing attention, becoming one dimensional. 

TikTok is one of the main platforms where artists can post their music, as its ability to reach large audiences is derived from its short-form content-based algorithm.  Instead of getting up and fast forwarding a CD, all one has to do is swipe forward. Listeners have a 24.14% likelihood of scrolling past a song in the first five seconds. In 2024, 84% of Billboard’s global top 200 songs first gained popularity on TikTok, demonstrating how TikTok virality closely relates to being on top on the charts. Many musicians feel pressured to tailor their work to what performs best in this online rat race. 

For filmmaking, talent alone is rarely enough. The shift from disc media to streaming platforms has made it accessible for films without large budgets to become marketable. With 83% of the population in the US alone using streaming platforms, it is difficult to be noticed amongst the masses. Even if the production is well made and thought out, films often get overlooked by industries. Networks prefer spending their budgets on formulaic content as opposed to indie films because they are guaranteed to become popular. 

Supporting originality may require escaping the formulas and engaging with work that challenges the expectations. Local art can be found at farmers markets, art festivals and competitions. Downtown McKinney hosts the Arts and Bloom festival soon, where various artists can be discovered and supported by residents. Only then can art return to what has always been a reflection of one’s self.