From August 2-4, 2012 I attended the BlogHer conference in New York City. The largest gathering of women bloggers in the world, BlogHer is filled with informative and educational breakout sessions, big, splashy parties, high-profile keynote speakers (like Katie Couric and Martha Stewart) and opportunities to connect with sponsors interested in working with bloggers for ad campaigns and brand ambassador programs. Well, unless you’re a midlife blogger like me. Then the sponsors were less than enthused. I diligently walked the Expo floor, handing out my card and giving my elevator pitch to dozens of sponsors — and the only ones that seemed remotely interested in me were those focusing on, you guessed it, menopause.
At first I laid all of the blame on the companies represented at BlogHer — and there were some huge companies participating. But then I started thinking more about social media and those of us over 50. And what I’ve realized is this: There is a huge swath of this demographic that doesn’t take social media seriously at all. Just a year ago, I had no experience with Twitter, blogging or Pinterest, but I have learned so much in the past year. I have fully embraced social media as a powerful force in my life, and it’s opened so many doors and introduced me to so many fascinating people I would never have had the chance to know IRL (in real life). I have had many of my contemporaries look questioningly at me when I mention my activity on Twitter or when I talk about the impact Facebook has on the traffic on my
- “I hardly ever go on Facebook — there’s nothing there that interests me.” (Check out Facebook groups).
- “What can someone say in 140 characters on Twitter?” (A lot, believe me!).
- “I don’t want a Facebook page — I don’t want people finding me there.” (You are able to set your Facebook page to allow access to only your friends).
- “Twitter is only for business.” (Twitter is amazingly social, and you can find people discussing thousands of topics). and my favorite:
- “Social media is a waste of time.” (No, it isn’t!). I have news for you who feel like this. Social media is here to say. As Guy Kawasaki, one of the biggest influencers in social media has said (and I paraphrase), social media isn’t NEW media, it’s media, period.
If you are reading this article, you have accepted social media as a legitimate conveyor of information. My call to action for those who are 50+ is this: Try some of the social media platforms. Check out Twitter,Facebook and Pinterest. Read some blogs — they’re easy to find, just google “blog” plus whatever interests you — I guarantee you’ll find a blogger writing about nearly any topic under the sun. If you are confused by any of these social media platforms, google this: “how to use Pinterest/Facebook/Twitter.” If you’re still confused, ask a teenager. Social media and the internet are as natural to them as walking and talking. Those of us at midlife need to embrace the future of communication and accessing information. We are the missing link in the online world, but we are making progress. To dismiss social media as a passing phase is just wrong. Give social media a try.
Great “meeting” you on Blog Talk Radio.You so often write exactly what I’m thinking.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/emptynesters/2012/08/08/the-empty-nesters
It was great to meet you too! You and Jill made me feel very welcome and comfortable.
I am with you Sharon! Facebook has connected so many people yet gives everyone the ability to respond, lurk or ignore to their choosing.
I thought Blogher may be targeting the Mommy Bloggers but glad to read your point of view.
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Excellent article! There was one response I did not see in your article that I have experienced quite frequently….those people our age who look down their noses at those of us who do engage in social media, meaning those people who think that social media (and technology for that matter) is akin to the “dumbing down of America” and that anyone who uses it is “stupid”. Unfortunately, I hear this alot. It’s like they are angry that the world is changing.
Yes, they do sometimes seem angry. It’s like back in the dark ages when people said “I could never watch a movie at home. I have to be in the theater.” Not so much anymore.
This is an excellent article about this issue. One of the reasons our age group makes itself irrelevant is by pooh-poohing the culture of the young.
I agree with what Wendy Z said. A lot of my contemporaries do not even know what a blog is. They have no idea what it is I do or why I travel to meet up with others like myself. There is almost a superiority to being technologically ignorant. Of course, Facebook has changed that a bit, but most people my age are not using FB for much more than hooking up with their old high school boyfriends.
All that to say that I’m glad you are out here in the blogosphere talking about this stuff. I really do believe our demographic is set to explode very soon. We are the unexplored new territory.
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I agree too: I’m active on all the platforms you mention, and if the topics of Facebook, Pinterest, or especially Twitter come up among people my age, there always are those who pipe up with the negative comments. If they would listen to themselves, they’d hear how they sound like old fogeys – which they are, actually. You can’t fight progress – and it’s SO worth looking into what you can learn, whom you can meet, and what you can share via social media – the ultimate, universal, age-and-physical-ability-transcending connector of the human spirit!
Great solid information, also love the infographic.
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Sharon,
I agree…a lot of people our age are intimidated by social media. I used to be one of them. I only started tweeting about three months ago and I love it. I have found more interesting people, more interesting articles that I would have ever discovered on my own. It’s cool too because you find like-minded people. It’s the same for facebook. I haven’t tried pinterest yet or the others; mostly just twitter, my wordpress blog (just started in January) and facebook. But I”m making progress. And I am the least technology saavy person I know! Thanks for encouraging others to step out and be more “social.” You and the others at GenFab have set great examples for us midlifers.
You go, girl! I love this post, and so glad you wrote it. We are blazing trails, or as Chloe says, we’re in the wild west, by showing 50+ that social media is here to stay and we have something to say on it that matters! Thanks, Sharon.
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