Who is correct re age of Mumsnet user?

[polkaloca]

I was at work the other day searching for a camping recommendation on MNs. Colleague said to me "why do you still use mumsnet?". I gave a variety of reasons but she thought it was odd I was still a user despite my dc being well into primary school. She said but isn't everyone on there because they have babies/toddlers. Now I did in fact join for pregnancy advice in my late 20s but am still here nearly 10 yrs later. I said as a millennial I'm definitely one of the younger users & I would say the average user is probably 55/60. She thought I was talking nonsense & said well who uses Gransnet?.

Am I talking nonsense? So many posts reference things before my time that I think unless you are on specific boards eg pregnancy/birth that users are older. Nothing wrong with that but I do think the media gives the impression that the average user is much younger. And finally what do younger people use instead? Colleague said she has not used MNs for years & looks for advice on instagram.

I'm 45 and my children are in secondary school. But there are also mums to adult children on here. That's great because they can share their wisdom having been there. Your friend is ignorant.

Well I started on here as that exact demo graph in my thirties but it is 23 years later.I think it’s average age is older because it’s got an old fashioned interface.

I think she's got it wrong. There's a wide range of ages on here. I'm almost 50 and my DC are late teens.

If I’d heard this exchange between you two, I’d have thought “what an odd pair!”

Your friend is ignorant.

Well she's not a user anymore but I do think she's right that the PR image is of a mum with young dc. And thinking about I do sometimes feel an outlier on some of the threads eg mortgage ones because they aren't representative of my age group.

Well I m 57 and ds 37 dd 31. Nothing like this existed when they were little. I wish it had!

I don't think age matters but I work in a secondary school so still in the loop about older dc challenges.

When I was a new mum there was only my parents and friends irl to talk to and I only met other mums with dc same age once mine were at school.

I think its average age is older because it’s got an old fashioned interface.

True

Isn't there an actual census that would tell you?

Why didn’t you just bring up the Actives page and show your colleague the array of thread titles

job done

If I’d heard this exchange between you two, I’d have thought “what an odd pair!”

Wow, your mind would be blown everyday in our office 😆

I am 33 and I have been here since I was 24.

Disturbed more like! 😂

And nobody to talk to about my alcoholic ex dp wasting money and gaslighting me (the term hadn't been invented!).

Nobody to talk to in the early hours of sitting up with baby dd while I waited to see if he d be home or what state he d be in

Who does she think posts on the secondary, further and higher education boards?
Or the elderly parents?
Or retirement?

Google tells me this

"one such forum is Mumsnet, with a predominantly female demographic skewed towards older (31-40) and more highly educated users (Pedersen and Smithson 2013)"

but I don't think that's correct.

Disturbed more like!

How odd!

Well I'm 50 something and child free. MN is like a supermarket. Has something for everyone and nearly all can be used without even noticing there's one section entirely for very young children.

I’m 53. I didn’t have DD till I was late 30s and didn’t start using MN till she least a toddler, maybe even at school, so early to mid 40s.

I would say there are loads of MNers with older kids, adult kids - and indeed no kids at all.

Sounds like your friend’s usage of MN was very narrow.

It’s called Mumsnet. We’re all mums. It’s for everyone. 😃

99% of people I know with kids still at school ie under 18, were born 1980-2001, we are friends with one couple who are 1975 born and they always say they feel old lol. But most with toddlers like myself are 35 and under, I only know three women over 40 with a preschooler, I find that mumsnet has a lot of posts from women who’s kids are actually my age, so are more a MIL age to me than a ‘peer’, good to get different perspectives though but sometimes I think there are ‘modern’ parenting dilemmas and you get a lot of ‘in my day’ answers that’s fine but sometimes you want someone in your own generation who gets the exact thing to answer you.

You do see the contradiction in what you’re saying here surely @Funderthighs

You couldn’t have just brought up the actives page to show her not all about weaning etc?

Am I talking nonsense?

did you genuinely question yourself?

I think it depends on the area of MN people are on. Both Relationships and AIBU seems to be younger women or those with toddlers/primary aged kids. Many threads about being in the thick of it with husbands who don’t pull weight/do anything for birthdays/xmas/Mother’s Day, issues with in laws either overstepping or not being involved enough. Baby forums will obviously have a younger cohort typically, other areas will be aimed towards people with older children (or none!) so more time for hobbies and general chat.

It’s called Mumsnet. We’re all mums. It’s for everyone.

But do you think it still attracts new younger users or would they go to other SM sites?