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Generation Bloomer

Meet the unlikely social media stars teaching us to love more about our later years, at a time when it is needed more than ever

By Isabelle EmmaPublished 4 years ago 12 min read
Top Story - April 2020
13

Why is a 22-year-old writing about the importance of positive ageing representation in social media, you may ask?

At the time of writing, we are in the middle of a pandemic, a pandemic which is disproportionately affecting older people. With sombre statistics and bleak prospects overwhelming all media outlets, it is extremely difficult for anyone, let alone the older generation, to see the positive side to ageing at a time full of such uncertainty. Isolated at home, vulnerable and frightened, remaining in good spirits during this time is far from easy.

Through this article, my aim is to illuminate some of the uplifting content highlighting the joy in old age, an idea which seems to have got lost amongst the present chaos. My aim is to provide some relief, however light, from an understandably anxious time. In saying that, I must note that it is not my intention to detract from the significance of what is happening. I simply hope to provide at the least a momentary distraction, and at the most some support for the notion that age really is just a number.

On that note, I ask you to think about common stereotypes associated with ageing. Whether it's "grumpy old man", "deaf old bat", or even the act of airbrushing wrinkles from an advert, damaging ideas associated with getting older are sadly all too common in the media, pandemic or no pandemic. In addition to providing younger people with an unpromising picture of the future, they categorise older people as individuals who no longer contribute anything to society. As I'm sure you'll agree when thinking about any much-loved older figures in your life, this could not be further from the truth.

Better Late than Never

Through volunteering and working with older people, I am always thinking about what it means to age, and how it is possible to enjoy our older years to their full potential. Something that has, rather surprisingly, shaped my view on this has been an integral part of modern life which is rarely associated with the older generation: social media.

During my time as an undergraduate student, I volunteered for an initiative which sought to help local older people become more connected to the online world. Every week, a student volunteer would pair up with an older person and help them with whatever they wanted to learn about the internet. It was truly humbling to see how much joy was elicited by something such as using Facebook to connect with long-lost friends.

Members of the group soon became keen to share photos, jokes and stories on their new platforms, which instantly erased the misconception I had about older people 'hating' social media. Through chatting to members of the group, I discovered that it was mainly a fear of the unknown that was the biggest barrier to getting involved.

Statistics show that in the UK, only 47% of adults aged 75 years and over are recent internet users. Whilst the reasons for this low percentage are not hard to imagine, I often wonder how many older people would like to express themselves online, if only they were enabled to do so. I truly believe that positive ageing representation in the digital world may well be the catalyst to seeing more and more of the older generation having an online presence, and what a blessing that would be.

Consider this article both an appreciation of those who give a voice to the older generation through their social media platforms, and a celebration of those in the older community who have bravely ventured into the digital space themselves. Thank you for all the sunshine that you have brought into my life. And on that note, I shall start with someone who has done just that.

Social Media Account: @baddiewinkle

"I want to be an inspiration for the older generation"

With a bio that reads "stealin ur man since 1928" I knew immediately that this was no ordinary Instagram influencer. The colour, the glitter, the sparkle, and the sheer exuberance that this profile radiated was beyond anything I had ever seen. It truly felt as if a piñata had exploded all over my phone screen in the form of entrancingly fabulous neon outfits and makeup. I could not believe that this extraordinary person who I had stumbled across by chance was 91-years-old.

As I learnt more about Baddie (real name Helen Ruth Elam), I realised that her adventure into the wild world of social media was purely accidental. After her granddaughter shared an image of Baddie online, nothing could have prepared her for the reception she received. At eighty-five, Baddie had beaten the odds to become an internet sensation. Taking to this like a duck to water, Baddie has now amassed almost 4 million followers and if her beaming selfies are anything to go by, is loving every minute of it.

Like so many others, it was Baddie's undeniable charm and zest for life that drew me in. There is something so heartening about seeing an individual in their nineties dress in clothes that wouldn't be out of place at Coachella, let alone caption her photos with phrases that are straight out of the latest rap charts. To see someone living life to the fullest in such a beautifully unconventional way was definitely something that I not only wanted to see more of on Instagram, but was an attitude that I truly wanted to learn from.

However, Baddie is keen to let people know that her life hasn't always been this colourful. In a video by Refinery29, she describes the heartbreak of losing both her husband and her son:

"I cried all the time because I couldn't come to terms with it... So I made myself over into Baddie Winkle"

It is very easy to get lost in believing that the highlight reel that we are exposed to on Instagram is reflective of people's true daily lives. I'm very grateful to Baddie for being brave enough to share the tougher periods in her life, as not only is this a true testament to her strength of character, but it provides a message of hope to others who may be struggling to emerge from their own darkness.

The picture that started it all

In a TV interview, Baddie noted how she wanted "to be an inspiration for the older generation", and when asked what advice she has for others in her age group, she responded with: "I would say get off your butt and get busy doing the things that you wanted to do in your life but never did".

Having volunteered and worked with older people in the past, I know that Baddie's advice could go a long way, especially for those who may be lacking the confidence to defy ageing norms. As a young person, I can vouch for the fact that we can often be so wrapped up in the stereotypes facing our own generation, that it can be easy to forget that older people have their own set of societal norms imposed on them too. I remember speaking with one lady about how much she loves fashion, and feeling saddened to hear that she no longer wore her favourite clothes through fear of "looking like mutton dressed as lamb". Perhaps if she had seen Baddie's photos, she may have felt differently. Sometimes all it takes is for one person to lead by example, demonstrating that no opinion of others can ever triumph living in a way that lights up your soul.

Baddie's sparkling spirit is apparent off-screen too, seen when she invited Refinery29 behind-the-scenes of her glorious Instagram feed. Filmed laughing and joking with her family, leafing through her eclectic wardrobe and posing for pictures in her usual energetic manner, Baddie's vivacity is truly infectious. Towards the end of the video, she is shown having a quiet moment of reflection:

"Baddie Winkle has helped me a lot... In spirit, anyway"

Me too, Baddie. Me too.

Photo: Humans of New York

Image caption: “My husband got involved with a younger woman at work. I was relaxed about it at first. He’s thirteen years younger than me, so I thought: ‘Shit happens.’ But then she got pregnant. Luckily through the divorce process I had the opportunity to take over this shithole place with no heating, which I've turned into an art studio. And now I’m living my best life. Everything is for sale except the pink chandelier and the dog. Anyone is free to stop by at anytime. You can eat or drink whatever you want. All the young people in the neighborhood love me. I’m the oldest person in our friend group. Everyone else is in their twenties or thirties. They call me Queen Mama. I call them my adopted kids. I always help them with their school projects and resumes and interviews. I only ask one thing in return. Each of them has to teach me one new thing every week: a piece of music, a trend, an idea. Just so I can stay up to date. Before you take the photograph, let me go inside and put on some make-up. We were out until 2 AM last night.” (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Humans of New York is a photoblog renowned for telling the extraordinary stories of seemingly normal members of society. I truly feel as though the very essence of being human is captured in these images; the raw emotional content of the captions coupled with shots of people in their usual environment never fails to elicit a real sense of connection with the human spirit. Ever since a friend shared one of their posts with me a few years ago, I have been utterly captivated.

As I mentioned earlier, I am always grateful to platforms for sharing the stories of the older generation; their tales contain a depth of wisdom about life that I simply do not possess at this stage in my twenties. I was drawn to this particular photo by the twinkle in Queen Mama's eyes. "This lady has a few lessons for us," I thought to myself, eager to begin reading the caption and hear her story.

I look at this photo and see the face of a woman who overcame challenges in life through doing things that were meaningful to her. I see someone sat comfortably in her own surroundings, safe in the knowledge that she is having a beautiful impact on those in her local community. I see a cheeky smile which tells me that ageing isn't as limiting as society would have us believe. Yes life can throw you curveballs, but shifts in perspective can help create blooms from the wreckage, whether those blooms are in the form of a pink chandelier or otherwise. Queen Mama has taught me that is never too late to form new connections, to stop learning, nor to stop partying to your heart's content.

Queen Mama's story also serves as a reminder that our connections with older people can extend far beyond the labels of "grandparent" or "people I volunteer for". She shows us that it is possible to cultivate a wondrous sense of reciprocal friendship and learning from one another that defies generations, for no other reason than enjoying each other's company. As someone who has seen the effects of such friendships firsthand through my volunteering work, I know that sharing stories like this couldn't be more important.

Thank you, Humans of New York. And all hail, our Queen.

Video: @joana_zanin10

I was having a terrible day before I came across this video. The sort of day that kicks off with a spilt mug of coffee, and one which feels as though nothing is going to drag you out of the thunderous mood you're in. How wrong I was!

During my commute home, stubbornly stuck in my grumpiness, I logged onto Twitter and began scrolling mindlessly in a desperate attempt to unwind from my stressful day. After being bombarded with depressing news stories, I was just about to close the app when this video graced my screen. My smile could hardly be concealed from the people on the bus with me.

The joy that this video brings me is so simple. At first glance, it brings me happiness just to see another human being living so wholeheartedly in the moment; no words are needed to convey the sheer delight expressed by the two ladies in this video.

After some further thought, I think that the reason this video makes me so happy is because yet again, someone is proving that age does not have to be a barrier to enjoying things that are typically associated with being young. This 93-year-old is a perfect example of the fact that enjoying movement is not only still possible in old age, but can be achieved during these current times of isolation too.

With research highlighting the importance of media placing emphasis on the non-health benefits of exercise for older people (such as socialising and enjoying the activity itself), videos such as this are an excellent start. The message I always take away from watching is that life is truly here to be enjoyed to the best of our ability, and sometimes that enjoyment can come in the most delightfully uncomplicated forms.

It is almost impossible not to smile and laugh along with this clip, and I hope that is also the case for those reading this, whatever age you may be.

Love More

These three pieces of digital media are but a small introduction into loving more about growing older. How I wish I could celebrate every single older person who has come out of their comfort zone to try something new; I see you and I applaud you. You bring me so much joy.

Whilst I chose to focus on social media as a means of being a voice for the older generation, I must note that older people are thriving off-screen too. Whether it's in athletics, the art world, or academia, there is always evidence of the human race across the age spectrum choosing to love more about life, if only we choose to see it.

My grandparents passed away when I was very young, and it breaks my heart that I was never able to share conversations with them about life, love and everything in between. And yet, something tells me that they would have been completely on board with the rise of the digital "late-bloomers". I can almost imagine them looking down on people like Baddie and yelling "You Go, Girlfriend!".

Until we meet again, I will always be an advocate for the fact that older people are highly valued members of our society. I hope you will agree in that there is an unparalleled joy to be felt by all ages when witnessing life being lived to its fullest, especially at a time when it is needed the most.

I give you, my dear readers, Generation Bloomer.

Main Image: baddiewinkle on Facebook

aging
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About the Creator

Isabelle Emma

Isi | 23 | Londoner | Come and say hi - [email protected]

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