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.

Clearly just thinks we have terribly advanced babies who leap ahead into higher ed before being toilet trained.

Plenty of retired women on here too, it doesn’t matter

I think like any platform some people are addicted and will always be here day in day out.

Not everyone is a 'mum'.

And not everyone who is a 'mum' is the same.

I'm 50 and been here since I was early/mid 30s. So I suppose I've aged with the site.

I think it can be quite a hostile place to younger posters though.

Lots of "How old are you? 12?" type responses to people who are in their early 20s going through the sort of stuff lots of people go through in their early 20s.

And lots of sneery comments towards the few late teens people who post thinking they're going to get parental wisdom from people their parents' ages.

I agree with you op, I'm late 40s and have been here around 20 years! I think there's lots of us who came when our kids were babies and stayed.

You can see it sometimes on threads where people ask for advice on what to wear to a wedding. I know from nieces and young colleagues that what wedding guests wear now is massively different to 20 years ago and there's often some of us oldies reacting with shock to what people post for advice on!

I am not a mum. I’m in my mid 30s have used Mumsnet for about 5 years.

Yes there is a wide range of ages and also a wealth of different experience on MN.

I'm of an age where I assume your colleague would think I should be on Gransnet. But I think I looked a Gransnet once a long time ago and was not interested. I don't have Grandchildren and I don't "feel" I have an outlook on life defined by my age.

That's the crux isn't it: we shouldn't be defined by our numerical age.

Your colleague sounds ageist tbh. I assume by seeking advice on Instagram - I didn't even realise people actually went on Instagram for advice - she is wanting to listen to people who she can clearly see are in an age group that is acceptable to her. I find that really limiting and narrow minded.

It’s very odd
can’t understand why if the op had the website up right in front of her during this exchange didn’t just show this “it’s nonsense” woman all the thread titles and forums

@KindLemur agree actually.

Yes I smiled at that post!

So that was 12 years ago?

@Eelqueen I will just show her this thread since a lot of posters have said they are in their 50s. Are you going to contribute anything of note?

Ha I joined aged 19 and now I’m 35. Didn’t have kids until 25. Not proud of it but goes to prove your point!

I'm 60. Retiredish. Have been here for what seems like forever. My kids are doing postgraduate courses, my MIL has dementia, husband and I like to go on holidays, i have a variety of medical conditions, and many, many opinions...

plenty on here for me.

Well yes

Show her the list of active threads and conversation over 😂

I thought we were a bunch of feminist hags? Or at least that is how the TRAs describe us. We are just being terfs because we are old and ugly and envy their vibrant womanhood.

32 and joined last year as having my first baby very soon.

I started on Mumsnet years before I even had kids! And will probably stay on it well after too.

@Youaremythtaken yes, that's true

I'm mid 30's, childfree by choice and have been here for 6-7 years

Your colleague sounds ageist tbh. I assume by seeking advice on Instagram - I didn't even realise people actually went on Instagram for advice - she is wanting to listen to people who she can clearly see are in an age group that is acceptable to her. I find that really limiting and narrow minded.

I think a wider viewpoint is often beneficial

I don't use insta but she wlll ask/look for recommendations on there whereas I would use MNs.

I joined at 19, the day I found out I was pregnant. I was terrified and got fantastic advice and reassurance here.

I'm 30 now and still here, but not sure I'd post these days if I was in the same situation. I don't think I'd get anywhere near the same kindness and reassurance shown to me back then.

I’m 70 I have three children and five grandchildren. I’ve been on here for years and years.

i joined gransnet but it wasn’t for me. They are a strange lot over there. I much prefer Mumsnet.

@iwentjasonwaterfalls that's a shame, do you think that would be true of all boards?

I joined, like many, whilst pregnant. DS is now 24 I’m 63. My great niece joined recently, just had first baby.