Why the silly icons under my image?

I don't like having to see those six 'social network' icons user my posted image, and all images presented. I don't even know what half of them mean and I do not participate in any of them. They are too colorful and very close to the images and only distract your eye from enjoying what we are all here to enjoy. Is there a way they can be removed or relocated? Or better yet, how about user determined? Would make 2014 a little bit better. Thanks.

This thread would be a good opportunity for members to chime in on the social media links Jeffrey is describing. If the consensus is that they of little value, they will go away.

Count me as another vote to eliminate the social network icons. I also find them distracting and of no personal value as I don't use any of the social media.

I don't find them distracting. Social media is a very widespread form of sharing. I fully realize not everyone uses it, but that doesn't mean that it should be removed. I do wish that when a link was created, it used the thumbnail of the image, rather than a default NPN image.

I have to agree that the icons are of no value to me. I would delete them if offered the choice. I have no accounts in any of them. Nevertheless, if it were possible for members to "opt in" to have them with their posts, I would not mind that. Perhaps there could be a box to check when setting up the post, if one wanted them.

I avoid all social media, so they are of no value to me and I'd vote to dispense with them. I do, however, understand why others find them useful.
Sandy

I would say keep the icons, no matter what anyone says here. Not having the ability to easily share or link or pin is very backward looking and not where any website should be heading. (Though I think small versions being linked that might drive traffic to see the full versions might be good.) Especially given the fact that they aren't very distracting and don't bother anyone who doesn't want to use them, I think it would be silly to get rid of them.

I would, if I were the site owner, also look at any statistics of how often they are used, and see if there was any reason to change their placement or make them more usable. The point of them is to grow the community and expand visibility of the site. Hopefully that's what they are doing.

I don't use them, but they don't bother me either. Even if just a few people use them then I'm okay with them being there.

I agree with David; future growth shouldn't back away from growing trends. The fact that I and others are social media Luddites shouldn't deprive those who are more connected, personally and professionally, of the convenience the links offer. Personally, until Jeffrey complained about them, I never paid any attention to them. I had to go to an image to see what he was referring to. They have never diminished my appreciation of a posted image.

Even though I hardly participate in social media I vote to keep the link icons. It is a simple way for people that do use social media to quickly link to specific NPN images. They don't show up in the large view and that is what I look at to critique photos anyway.

Scroll them out when viewing small I say. Whether one uses them or not, it's the 'future' as someone has said.
It's a good tool if you're interested in trying to promote your work of course.
And why not "spread the wealth" around

I have little use for social media, but David B. (as usual) lays out a wise case for keeping them
And hey, they don't appear in the Larger Photo window, which is yet another good reason to post those larger sizes.

They don't really bother me. In fact, I hardly notice them now that I'm used to them being there. I don't use social media, but, as has been said, the functionality the links provide will be helpful to those who do.

I also agree with David B's rationale for keeping them.

--P

Sure will be a fair distribution of thoughts on this subject. David B's 'facts' are only his opinions. You only have to start at the top to see that. My personal opinion is how can you think that 'tweeting' a fine art photograph is any real form of promotion for an artist on this site? Do you really think it will do you any good in the sense of getting your name and work 'out there' or generating any kind of income? Of course, there are no stats on the value of these methods so we'll never know, but I'd be interested is hearing any success stories about the once in a million when a real image sold well or was noticed by a gallery curator or publisher of any value due to a tweet or a Facebook entry.

Second issue is the placement. I'm not against keeping the little icons but placing them further from the image would look better. It makes more sense to list them next to the other six icons at the bottom of the page that direct viewers off the page or site just like the social network icons do.

I don't use the icons or much social media, but times they are a changing and NPN is doing it's best to keep up with them so I vote they stay ,especially if we are to attract new and aspiring photographers to the site who maybe do.

I say "ditto" to what Lorna says. I honestly don't even notice those icons under the images anymore, but they could be put a different spot if others find them bothersome. I have used them once or twice though, and found they work well.

In response to Jeffrey questioning the use of these media for promoting fine art and a career, I would just add that many of us on NPN are not looking to become a "pro" photographer and make a living off of our images. For many of us, it is a rewarding hobby that may occasionally yield some financial and/or social sucess. Social media is one way of connecting our "friends" to that hobby, and possibly even igniting someone else' interest to join NPN. And if one IS looking to become "pro". . .why would you NOT utilize any avenue you can?

My personal opinion is how can you think that 'tweeting' a fine art photograph is any real form of promotion for an artist on this site? Do you really think it will do you any good in the sense of getting your name and work 'out there' or generating any kind of income?

I agree with you - I don't believe they are good promotion for the artist. I think they can be good promotion for the site as a whole though. If someone posts a pic they like to Facebook, a bunch of people may see it and visit the site. Same for Twitter. This might drive a bit more traffic to the site, and even encourage someone else to participate. That's the potential value I see - not as any real form of promotion to grow any particular artist's business or visibility.

I suppose that could happen too, but it would take an awfully influential Facebook user or tweeter to do it - the kind of folks who probably don't visit NPN, though we could hope. :)

I think that a lot of people on NPN are not here for "promotion". We're here basically to share photos with our friends and to become better photographers. If those icons make that sharing and communication better for those people alone, that's fine for me. Who knows, I might even try to use them one of these days. The fact that they are there make me think of using them more for what I like to do here.

Some photographers resisted auto-focus. Some photographers resisted digital. The social networks are the future -nay, the present- of marketing. If they annoy some folks, move them down where the other icons are, for blogs, www, gallery, etc. To delete them would be shortsighted, IMO.

Hello! I am totally new here and am just now venturing into selling my work and have never sold a single photograph. However, as a consumer I can say that I have purchased prints after seeing someone's work on Pinterest. Three works are hanging in my house now from artists I would have not even known existed if I had not seen a "Pin" of one of their works. Clicking on the link took me to a site where I could immediately purchase a print. The icons below photos on a website are just the way someone shared those artists' works making it possible for me to see them and to make a purchase. So, I would say, yes, social media can work if you want it to work for you and you are willing to work the medium.

Amy Garner

Well, my personal opinion is that social media are a fad that will die soon, but I've always been a lousy prognosticator. I don't use any of them, but don't mind the presence. I think some of the suggestions for moving them to a less prominent location make sense.