Do they think I am too old for Facebook?

This article first appeared September 3, 2009.

Dear Aunty B,

I am a 55 year old man who is facing (for the first time in my life) discrimination!

I work in financial services, love social networking and I’m on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. I did your webinar the other day and met many like-minded people. However, when I tell my clients to check out my Facebook page, their mouths fall open and they say ‘Are you on Facebook??’ And then they look at me with a mix of alarm as if I have said something inappropriate!What’s wrong with me being on Facebook? Do they think I am too old? I have as much right to be on Facebook as anyone else.

Discriminated Against,
VIC

Dear Discriminated Against,

Of course you do. It’s just not clear why you are on Facebook. The problem is not you. I think your clients might feel that Facebook is still a friend’s site and they may be unclear that you are using it for business purposes.

If I was you I would offer a few more words of explanation. For example, before you launch into your invite, set the scene a little. You could say: ‘Facebook is a great way for me to help clients stay abreast of changes in the finance sector and chat about finance news’. Then you could ask them to check out your page.

Don’t be put off. The baby boomers of the world invented social networking. Now we have the tools to do it. All power!

However, I am curious. Do any of you think that people are discriminating against our friend because of age? Should he be on Facebook?

Good luck!
Your Aunty B

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