Good points, both of you.
I think the true challenge is to define the goal. If one is interested in producing music that one personally finds rewarding and fulfilling, and then sharing that music in a way that makes it accessible to like-minded others, then there isn't much of a point in playing the social media game. It is fairly easy these days to release something on, for example, Bandcamp, tell a few friends, and carry on.
If one's goal is to get as many fans, plays, sales as possible, however, I suspect that playing the social media game is unavoidable. I'm skeptical that an independent artist can "make it" without working the social media angle as hard as the studio. (I agree with Jana that the music itself, of course, needs to be good.) The simple truth is that, the more people who are aware of your work, the more likely you are to sell it.
Speaking for myself: I'm an introvert and don't like social media. I enjoy the Hypnos Forums, of course, and have visited this place off-and-on since 2001 or so. But forums don't feel like social media to me, maybe because I'm older and they pre-date modern social media. Facebook doesn't really appeal to me. I don't bother with Instagram, etc. I just don't feel like myself when I'm posting to promote rather than posting to contribute (e.g., discussing things here, mentioning new releases I like). The good news is that there are mechanisms for introverted artists to reach potential fans these days without them having to invest in a social media presence.