Tell, don't show.
I have a certain distaste for performative encouragement. And now it makes its triumphant return. You tell, but you don't show.
I see dozens of these pompom dancers cheering for everyone from the safe distance of their pages. "We need your art! Create more! Art is so important in these uncertain times! Now reblog my oh-so-good, wholesome, and encouraging post; I want my slice of attention!"
But the question is: did these people support actual artists in any way? Did they do as little of a task as just pressing the heart button near the freshly uploaded work of art? I don't speak about anything else; I understand that reblogs are too much to ask, and so are comments. Commissions or buying the artwork is out of the question at all—everyone is broke (understandable), and art should be free for all; quit this capitalistic bullshit. Riiiiight.
The sad truth is nobody needs your art but you. For these people on the other side of the screen, you are just a one-second entertainment. They saw a pretty picture, admired it for a few moments, and moved on, because there's an ocean of colorful pixels available every single second of every single day. You are not special. Your art is not special. The encouragement posts you see are a typical "good person performance" without action behind the bunch of empty words.
Wanting to share your creation is natural. But do not expect anything from anyone. The era of meaningful connections is long gone. And next time you see the 100th, "Please, artist, never stop creating; the world needs you!" do not come running to this performer, commenting, liking, and reblogging. Do what they do to you: take a moment with this post, get the encouragement you need (or not, depending on your cynicism), and move on.
They don't care about you. They just want to be sure they have more colorful pixels for tomorrow's feed.
Those who care show. They don't need words, because their actions speak for themselves. Even if you have just a few people like that, they are worth thousands of social media performers. Treasure them, and do not forget to say that you are grateful for what they do for you.