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Would you consider it unusual for a woman in her 40s not to be on Tiktok or Instagram?

81 replies

SpaEnjoyer · 27/08/2025 06:06

I am 46 and I have never used Tiktok. I have looked at Instagram a couple of times but never registered on it. I have always thought it was a bit naff. Yet I was told yesterday by someone that it's "unusual" not to be on either of them. I've always thought Tiktok was mostly for people in their 20s and below, and Insta is mostly for under-30s. What are your thoughts MN?

OP posts:
Onefortheroad25 · 27/08/2025 07:51

Not unusual at all. I’m 46 and am not on any social media. Mumsnet is the closest I get!

Coffeeishot · 27/08/2025 07:53

Honestly use the Internet how you like there is no need to use apps you don't want,

I am ancient I only use instagram for other people's accounts to watch videos, and never tik tok.

Thingyfanding · 27/08/2025 07:56

Same age as you roughly and i don’t use them either. I do watch reels on Facebook sometimes though, the algorithm is nicely set for lots of positive videos about nature, animals, physics, positive thinking, fashion and parenting tips. I enjoy having a scroll.

OutandAboutMum1821 · 27/08/2025 08:02

YANBU- I don’t use either. I dislike being on my phone too much. I do use Facebook, my DH doesn’t even use that- I’d prefer to go his way and use less rather than start using more. Definitely only use what you feel interested in and comfortable using.

Chiseltip · 27/08/2025 08:06

Tiktok!

How many of you know that Tiktok has a keylogger?

Literally everything you do on your phone while the app is open gets recorded and sent straight to ByteDance.

Stay away from it OP.

It's just a data hoover.

And people wonder why their accounts get hacked.

It's because you've installed an app that literally tells you in the permissions that it's going to take all your data!

But people find it boring to read those pesky permissions . . .

LemondrizzleShark · 27/08/2025 08:08

Don’t use FB, insta or TikTok, and never used Twitter. My life is significantly better for it, far less exposure to rubbish. Honestly even YouTube is starting to irritate me with the amount of adverts, and the unwanted crap pushed at my by algorithms.

Sellenis · 27/08/2025 08:16

It's not unusual. Almost all social media is used by a minority of people, except Youtube and Facebook, which are just over 50%.

Instagram is typically in third place, but use is heavily weighted towards Millennials. Tiktok is even younger, with a massive majority (+80%) of its users being 13-25.

In almost all cases, most people aren't on the platforms you see in the media, it's just that we perceive presence, not absence, so it seems like everyone is.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 27/08/2025 08:39

You may be asking the wrong crowd here. We're all getting our social media scrolling needs met from Mumsnet so are less likely to be on Instagram than the average person.

KiteFlight · 27/08/2025 08:43

I don’t use any of them either. I don’t know how people find the time to use them. Though from what I see out and about people seem to be scrolling through them instead of talking to their friends and family!

Itsnottheheatitsthehumidity · 27/08/2025 09:11

I'm on Instagram, I'm 47, and it's addictive. I spend far too much time in it. I tried TikTok, saw was a toxic hellscape it was, and quit. Realised a lot of TikTok videos end up on Instagram and YouTube, where I also spend a lot of time. It's a drug and I need to quit. I used to be on a lot more social media but have slowly quit each one. It's really affected my concentration and I now have difficulty reading books (which I used to love doing).

I have tried Facebook several times but all I saw was some old acquaintances and aged rellies talking about how immigrants have ruined this country and I can't be arsed with it.

I have WhatsApp but apart from messaging, I don't spend a lot of time on it. But to talk privately with someone, and send photos to them, it's useful.

I used to be on Twitter but it became toxic for me, and I quit.

So yeah, I might quit Insta next, or at least, go on hiatus for a bit.

indoorplantqueen · 27/08/2025 09:22

I’m in my 40’s and don’t have my own account. My teenagers often send me reels though and they make TikTok’s which they show me.

AnonKat · 27/08/2025 09:24

Ive never been on it. Im already on my phone far too much, dont need another reason.

garlictwist · 27/08/2025 09:25

I would have thought people in their forties are more likely to be on Facebook as that's what was around when they were younger.

I'm 44 and not on anything because it's not my thing but everyone my age seems to be heavily into Instagramming everything they ever do.

BuicksACentury · 27/08/2025 09:25

I'm a similar age. I'm not on Tiktok. I use Instagram ocassionally. My friends range from avid social media users to complete avoiders.

SENMum1727 · 27/08/2025 09:29

I’m not on either. I joined Facebook 20 years ago to reconnect with schoolmates and now I only use it for marketplace and groups.

Catsandcannedbeans · 27/08/2025 09:36

My mum is in her 60s and thought instagram was BS until she found this nature page and found out you can follow the national trust ect. There really is something on there for everyone and it can actually be pretty wholesome.

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 27/08/2025 09:45

I'm not on any SM (unless you count MN) but I think I am very unusual, I don't know anyone else who isn't bothered.

Horrace · 27/08/2025 09:57

I would think it odd that anyone over the age of 23 to be on either. I assumed they were for youngsters

mindutopia · 27/08/2025 10:04

No, I’d consider it unusual to not be on any social media at all, but our generation is definitely more Facebook. I’m 44 and I would say nearly all friends on Facebook, maybe half have instagram. I wouldn’t know about TikTok as I don’t use it, but it’s definitely not of our generation (teens/20s). Where people (me included) use Instagram or TikTok, it’s often work related rather than personal social media accounts.

ObtuseMoose · 27/08/2025 10:08

I'm 56 and I love IG, who doesn't want to watch an adorable dog lipsynching to APT.?
I think there's an awful lot of virtue signalling and superiority over social media use.

CapCap · 27/08/2025 10:27

I’m 40. I like Instagram and use it regularly but don’t have FB ( got rid of it about 15 years ago!) twitter or TikTok.

I had TikTok once, about 5 years ago, but deleted it after 1 day…it’s definitely aimed at younger people. My feed was just full of teenagers doing weird dances and voice overs. It was the first time I felt too old to be on social media!

DiscoBob · 27/08/2025 11:27

No. I am and I'm not. Have no interest in such things and just know it would become an addiction.

Sadcafe · 27/08/2025 11:31

I sort of understand instagram, it’s a bit of an extension of Facebook, but thick tok, from the bits I’ve seen it’s utterly pointless and it’s not compulsory to be on either of them or any other social media, whatever your age

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 27/08/2025 11:33

ObtuseMoose · 27/08/2025 10:08

I'm 56 and I love IG, who doesn't want to watch an adorable dog lipsynching to APT.?
I think there's an awful lot of virtue signalling and superiority over social media use.

Definitely no virtue signalling here!

I genuinely don't know what people look at when scrolling through their phones for hours. I'm bored after half an hour here and there but I only ever go on 2 websites - MN and the DM showbiz section 😄

Gingercatlover · 27/08/2025 11:36

I’m on insta, not TikTock. Don’t see the point of yet another SM platform?