This article is brought to you as part of the ASCAP Member Wellness Program.

As a music creator, you’ve no doubt experienced the upsides and pitfalls of social media. Sometimes, social media can be a toxic and harsh environment. But it can also be an uplifting space where you can connect, get inspired and thrive.

For music creators, using social media apps like Instagram and TikTok, or interfacing with fans on SoundCloud and BandCamp, can help you expand the network of people who celebrate and support your work.

“Social media can be a powerful tool to help people find fellowship, as well as find a place where they’re interacting with other people who share their interests and share their values,” says Jonathan Hirschauer, DO, a psychiatrist with Orlando Health.

Here are some ways to create a positive social media environment that’ll inspire you, cultivate your goals and build community.

Connect with Other Artists

Social media is, at its core, all about connection. Finding these communities can be a great way for songwriters and singers to connect with others who share the same musical interests.

Many artists will post their latest work or put together virtual performances for their fan base. They can also use social media platforms as a testing ground to release samples of work-in-progress concepts and see reactions. Using these apps could also even present opportunities to collaborate with other artists.

“It’s really fun to be able to interact with people who share our values and share similar interests,” Dr. Hirschauer says. “And engaging in hobbies and interests is such an important part of good mental health – making sure we’re not working ourselves to the bone, and enjoying the things we love, like music.”

Showcase Your Work

Posting your latest musical endeavor on social media can be a nerve-wracking experience, but ultimately it’s a great way to get feedback and keep your fans and followers interested in your work.

You may not like what some people have to say about your work, but it’s no reason to think that it’s not worthy of putting out there. Instead, stay focused on how you feel about your music and what it means to you – and recognize that haters and trolls are simply part of the fabric of social media.

“It’s important for musicians to recognize that music is an art. It’s not a science. So some people, even if it’s the most perfectly composed piece of music in the world, might not like it. Recognizing this is important,” Dr. Hirschauer says. “It’s not about being able to please everybody.”

If you don’t have the mental space to deal with negative comments, you always have the option to turn comments off on a particular post. But as music creators, it’s helpful to keep reminding yourself that just because some people don’t enjoy a piece of music, it doesn’t mean that it’s not great; it’s simply something you’ve created that resonates with some people and not others, Dr. Hirschauer adds.

Find Inspiration

If you’re in a creative funk and need something to help you snap out of it, tuning to other artists’ YouTube channels and exploring their music on SoundCloud can help you get into a more inventive mental space. You might find their craft particularly interesting, which could spark ideas. It may also inspire you to challenge yourself as an artist and explore sounds that are outside of your musical comfort zone.

For example, Dr. Hirschauer, who is also a guitarist and songwriter, says he draws inspiration from his work environment. “I might hear something here in the hospital or think of an idea, and it starts to get in my head; I’ll end up writing music from that,” he says. “I think social media is the same way. So when you listen to somebody else’s piece of music, you might hear something and think, ‘Oh, I really like the way they wrote that,’ or, ‘That’s a really interesting chord progression.’”

The same principles apply to the less creative parts of your music career. You can glean plenty of marketing tips by exploring how other music creators promote their work and interact with their fans on social media.

Surveying the social media landscape can inspire you to incorporate new creative techniques and try out new ways of getting yourself out there, which can be powerful as you evolve as a creator.

Create a Support System

Social media can also be a good resource for finding community and building a solid support system. You can do this by curating your feed with accounts that resonate with you the most and provide you with positive affirmation and motivation. Creators can face constant competition and criticism in their day-to-day life, so having some support can be game-changing for your mental health.

“We’re social creatures, so it’s very important that we interact with other people,” Dr. Hirschauer says. “That’s why I think it’s important that we find a circle of people who are unconditionally supportive. So if you’re feeling down, you can reach out. A lot of the time, it’s not even advice-giving; it’s simply knowing that, ‘Hey, somebody’s listening to me and they know I’m going through a tough time.’”

Being open with your community about what you’re going through can help you find the support you need. And what’s really powerful and unique about social media is that you can get support from people all over the world – not just those in your immediate geographical area or circle of friends.