"I'm too old for this social media stuff."
"I prefer talking to actual people, not websites and computers. At my age, I'm more of a 'people person.'"
"My customers are all baby boomers, like me. They aren't using Twitter or Facebook."
If you don't mind, I'd like to take a moment to demolish some of these persistent myths about social media right now.
The first, most widespread, and most pernicious among them is the concept that
social media is a young person's game
, and that kids these days are simply wired differently than older generations to be more capable of understanding and using social technologies.
Hogwash.
People who practice using specific tools get really good at using those tools. Period. Think about it -- you grew up playing catch in the backyard with your friends, and now you can catch a ball without a second thought.
Were you hard-wired to catch and throw a ball? Of course not. You practiced.
You practiced because you were a kid and because back then you had lots of free time to do as you pleased. Other people, like your parents, had less time to practice, because they were busy doing more important things, like earning a living.
Generation X and Y were kids when technology advanced by leaps and bounds each year. They had the time to play with, adapt to, and learn each new technology. While you were out doing other things, like earning a living, those kids had nothing but time to practice, practice, practice.
So let's demolish Myth #1...
You're not too old for social media; you just haven't practiced enough.
And the learning curve is
not nearly as steep a climb
as you think.
Myth #2: "I prefer talking to actual people, not websites. I'm more of a 'people person.'"
So let's say you build a profile on Twitter or Facebook. You're a person, right? Looking to make connections, build relationships, help others, and
grow your business
.
That's exactly the kind of person that is behind almost every single other username, avatar and profile on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. A real, living, breathing person, sitting at a desk somewhere with their fingers lightly poised on their keyboard.
Just like you. So social media is really tailor-made for a "people person" like you.
(Are there automated profiles and robot-powered tweets out there? Certainly. Just don't be one of them.)
Myth #3: "My customers are all baby boomers, like me. They aren't using Twitter or Facebook."
The largest, fastest growing group of users on Facebook today is
men and women over 55
.
Yes, really.
The fastest growing groups of users on Twitter are teens and young adults between 12 and 24 years old -- while the largest retained, active group is still men and women over 35.
Surprised?
Your customers are
using social websites and applications in ever increasing numbers
to find products, buy services, answer their questions and solve their problems.
Shouldn't you be there to provide answers and solutions when your customers need them?
Wouldn't that be the mature, responsible thing to do?
Beth Dunn
is a member of the Inbound Marketing Consultant team at HubSpot. Beth also blogs at
www.bethdunn.org
.
Image:
*hiro008
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Bernie Borges 11:41 AM on February 19, 2010
I agree with all your points. Using social media to communicate is a very natural process no matter your age.
I like your example of learning to play catch. My example for those who use the age objection is the cell phone. Who thinks they're too old for a cell phone? The cell phone device is a mature technology at this point used by most people. Social media is still young. Those who resist it for whatever reason, are putting off the inevitable.
Matt Nelson 11:48 AM on February 19, 2010
AMEN TO THAT! :)
Seriously thanks for this post, something that I have been continually pounding my "Boomer" Co-Workers with (I am the "Native" of the group at 31) since day one here at FirstTracks Marketing Group. I am actually starting to get through to them and it's exciting to see their continued growth and realization of the true potential that social media can provide them.
Excellent article, well done. Many thanks.
Mark Kilens 11:48 AM on February 19, 2010
It's all about practice. Like they say, practice makes perfect. Everyone is using or touching social media, they just might not realize they are. For some, it's a balance of old methods and new ones.
Mark K.
Rick Roberge 11:54 AM on February 19, 2010
Some athletes get a golf club put in their hands as soon as they can stand upright. Some wait until they're 50 or 60 before they take up the game. What's the difference?
Traci C 11:55 AM on February 19, 2010
Any blog that uses the term "hogwash" is ok in my book. I couldn't agree with your premise more.
ed alexandert 11:57 AM on February 19, 2010
Q: How will you know when you are too old for social media?
A: When you're too old to care what your customers think: :).
Aash Shravah 11:58 AM on February 19, 2010
Great post. I intend to use this at my company.
Steve Garfield 12:03 PM on February 19, 2010
Excatly. Your readers might want to visit my mom, who is 84 and bloging. She's also on twitter and facebook. Age has nothing to do with it!
Beth Dunn 12:04 PM on February 19, 2010
Steve - I was thinking of your mother's blog while I wrote this post! :)
(Everybody else - you should really check out her blog -- it's something special.)
Chris G 12:21 PM on February 19, 2010
It's funny that older people are stereotyped this way in the first place. Are you sure it's an accurate stereotype, associating age with lack of knowledge about social media?
Or, for that matter, associating age with that particular picture?
Maybe this kind of stereotyping is one reason why (we) ancient people are on social media - people can't see how old we are and make assumptions about our cluelessness!
Syed Hyder Ali 12:26 PM on February 19, 2010
The problem is not with the age but with the BS (Believe System).
My friend and I are of same age. He use the cell phone as a PC with lots of software. Every time he installs any new software, he irritates me showing the features of the software and I politely answer him saying, cell phone are used for calling and receiving calls but not for installing flash player, adobe reader, etc.
So its a believe system not age factor.
@Matt Nelson, if you want your co-workers to use SM then say in such a way that it effects their BS.
Hyder
http://www.winwinmantra.com
Ted Page 12:27 PM on February 19, 2010
I agree that people CAN use social media at any age, but I think the older generation uses it differently - at least that's my experience. My employees who are 22 years old will do a work assignment and often be sending out tweets and writing on Facebook all at the same time. The older people (like me) tend to do the task at hand and focus on it more intently, then do social media activities. The sense of being constantly distracted by new information is what keeps older people away from some aspects of social media, at least at the office. I'm not saying one way is better than the other, but there are generational differences.
Gila Gideon 12:28 PM on February 19, 2010
That`s a good post that can give tools to cope with reluctant potential clients. As a gen X in Israel lecturing Social Media & working with gen X & Boomers clients I find gen X (!)& not just boomers having problems adopting to the ideas. I wrote about it myself in my Hebrew blog http://gilagideon.co.il/?p=974
Gila Gideon
Kenton Ross 2:25 PM on February 19, 2010
Just turned 60 and its my first attempt at a BuddyPress / Wordpress MU site for geezers like me. Geezers and Geezettes are welcome to join and start their own blog, etc.
Mary 3:54 PM on February 19, 2010
As a 55 year old with two blogs, a FB account, 2 FB fan pages, 2 twitter accounts, 3 Etsy shops, 2 Flickr sites I just say, "Hogwash" along with you. I have no patience for my peers who whine about their lack of computer skills. I have attended all sorts of free and affordable marketing seminars, workshops on social media, etc. and have found that people are very generous with their knowledge. I have learned so much and have met so many wonderful people from around the world that I communicate with about all sorts of things. I have increased my market visibility as well as expanded my range by being open to all these new ways of being in the world.
For those peers of mine that refuse to get with the program? Oh well, they are missing out on a lot...especially all the wonderful, cool, smart young people out there who are making a brave new world ;-)
T Donohoe 4:10 PM on February 19, 2010
Perception. Older people have a different view of media, its tools and various other means of communication than younger folks. Regardless of facts the perception adopted will usually win out. Consider what is being perceived by whom. A mindset is a very difficult matter to alter much less change.
Security. Much to be said about and around that concept, be it true, false, vaguely misunderstood or completely comprehended.
Privacy. This remains for many the really big issue in many social media sites where anybody can read along with what was discussed between others in many instances. This tips the scale frequently when considering usage. Older people (most certainly and often) don't want to "post" their musings for strangers much less family members to follow, read, debate, question or discuss with or about them. Personal thoughts are just that - personal. That's why they prefer other means of communication. It's what they have become acquainted with and have acquired "ease of use" status to perform just as mindlessly and second natured just like a younger twitter master. It's what they know and what they perceive as easy that inevitably counts. Again, perception rules the day.
Much of what passes for information in today's world is simply uncontrolled fingers and more often uncontrollable emotions. In many instances this can lead to a tremendous waste of time and energy that might be better spent elsewhere.
Texting is now the newest form of spam in the opinion of many. Like most fads its value must over ride the herd mentality to prove its eventual worth. Some believe we are now awash in a sea of over-communication and nonsense passing for intelligent thought and worthwhile, informative
knowledge. Gee, imagine that.
Kevin 4:34 PM on February 19, 2010
I agree. I am 46 and I feel like a maverick trying to tell people SM is important. A couple of points I would add are that the younger generation is and will keep communicating and buying utilizing SM. If want to sell something or communicate you need to know how to do this stuff (practice). Increasingly our information is being driven in bytes of info. eMail is about as slow and cumbersome anymore as much as the US postal service. I believe information will only come at us faster and faster. Practice!
Patsy Terrell 6:36 PM on February 19, 2010
It's attitude, not age. When the phone was first introduced some people eschewed it. They thought we'd lose face-to-face communication. People resisted having fax machines, email addresses, cell phones, and the list goes on. Yet you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the developed world who hasn't used a telephone. This same discussion happens over and over again. Some people see possibilities - regardless of age - and move with the latest, whatever that is. Some people resist any kind of change.
Edith Bodnar 8:23 PM on February 19, 2010
Yes, Patsy, you are absolutely right. It's nothing else but pure psychology; our attitude towards change -- it's age-dependent and our attitudes to take risks with trying the new -- it's also age-dependent.
Patsy Terrell 10:10 PM on February 19, 2010
Recent brain research indicates that we do not lose the ability to learn new things as we age. The brain retains its "plasticity" and continues to make new neurons until just hours before death. It's great news that we can still learn new skills, of any type we're interested in! I did a quick search and located the following article that talks a bit more about it. http://www.aarp.org/health/brain/aging/how_our_brains_improve_with_age.html
Thom Proehl 11:26 PM on February 19, 2010
If an old geezer like me (I was the old guy on the BBS 'The Well' back in the mid '80's) can still have fun, learn, share, teach and mentor cool folks that desire to grow, I think it proves age has absolutely nothing to do with if social media is for a particular chronological age.
We need to help everyone get over age or generation abilities and help everyone to reach beyond where they are stuck.
Vinaytosh Mishra 11:49 PM on February 19, 2010
A really nice article ..I can quote some of the lines from this post at time of convincing my customers and doubters in organisation.
Ryan Canney 8:32 AM on February 21, 2010
I think that every Company should have a Facebook Page, and also a Twitter account named for their company. Some parts of social media are not for everyone, but I think using Twitter is necessary for any business to promote your blog, network, get customers, etc.
My father-in-law recently asked my wife "Will you help me set up a Bookface and a Chirper account?"
Marie G Rhoades 11:06 AM on February 24, 2010
Great post! I just got my husband, who is 50+, set up on Facebook and he is completely hooked.
Most of our customers are over 50 and have come from Twitter and Facebook. We've had great success targeting 'Baby Boomers' over the past year on numerous social networks.
Marie Rhoades - Founder
http://SallyLeeByTheSea.com
Alexis Ceule 12:37 PM on February 24, 2010
My 81 year old father is all over social media. My 40 something friends are too. It's my 20 something neighborhood friends who are resistant. I had no idea... this was a great blog though. I know my father is not the norm.
Alconcalcia 6:40 AM on February 26, 2010
What I would say is it depends on what you want to get out of social media. Certainly the older person is going to have a network of friends and acquaintances who they are used to communication with face to face or over the phone, and frankly, old habits die hard. So if it;s purely the social you're interested in then I would suggest that the allure of social media would seem a bit alien and irrelevant to some older people.
If, however, you want to use social networking for business purposes then being on the likes of twitter and Linkedin (my jury is still out about Facebook as a business tool) is essential as it's another channel that enables you to get your name out there. In short, I can see why an older person might not see the need for/benefit of using social media, but in a business context to ignore social media would be madness.