Dear Gen X: Social Media Isn’t the Enemy — It’s the Water Cooler
Let’s be honest.
Most Gen X professionals (myself included) view posting on social media somewhere between “awkward self-promotion” and “digital narcissism.” We didn’t grow up documenting our lives for strangers. If anything, we were taught to keep our heads down, do the work, and let results speak for themselves.
But here’s the hard truth:
Results don’t speak for themselves anymore.
Algorithms do. And the algorithm is only listening if you speak up.
Why We Avoid It
We think self-promotion is bragging.
We don’t want to look like we’re trying too hard.
We value privacy and cringe at oversharing.
We’re too busy actually working to document the work.
Why We Can’t Ignore It
Your competitors are out there, front and center.
The modern networking “handshake” is your online presence.
Visibility builds credibility before you ever get in the room.
Breaking the Stereotype
Reframe Posting as Value-Sharing – You’re not saying “Look at me,” you’re saying “Here’s something worth your time.”
Start with Micro-Content – One insight, one tip, one sentence. You don’t need a TED Talk every time you post.
Show the Work Without the Selfie – Share your process, lessons learned, or resources without making it about your face.
Engage Before You Post – Comment on others’ work to warm up your network and ease into visibility.
The Bottom Line
Social media isn’t about ego—it’s about access. For Gen X, it’s less “look at me” and more “let’s connect.” We can keep our authenticity intact while still showing up. The key is to treat it like the digital water cooler: you don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room—just a consistent, valuable one.
