How to Use Twitter as a Middle-Aged Media Exec

Twitter doesn’t necessarily come naturally or easily to more mature industry execs. But this is the “personal branding” age, so there’s little choice for many agency and media hotshots but to start pecking away pithy updates. Results can vary.

Here is a list of etiquette tips for the over-40 set. In general, use your best judgement, and don’t try too hard to sound like, well, a millennial because young people are some of the most annoying people on Twitter.

 The Executive’s Guide to Twitter Etiquette

1. Never, under any circumstances, use emoticons. These are unbecoming, and if you are a man, can come off super creepy. Just use your words.2. Reconsider the urge to use lol, rofl and other abbreviations frequently used by your teenage daughter. Again, a certain creepiness factor enters when grown people use tween lingo. It’s like the guys on Japanese subways reading pornographic comic books. OK, it’s not that bad. Still. 

3. Please use historical-figure quotes sparingly — or any literary, philosophical or inspirational quotes for that matter. Yeah, Sun-Tzu gets your blood pumping, but sometimes discretion is needed.

4. It’s OK to suck up to clients, but try not to be too obvious or over the top about it. A little self-respect can go a long way. 

5. Remember: You’re a grown up. Think whether you would say aloud, “Love me some McDonald’s fries,” or “Sweet setup!”

6. Don’t do the whole arrows and airport abbreviations thing when traveling. We get it, you are a jet-setting exec. You are a Very Important Person. If you must share your travels, again, just use your words, I guess. Just know you run the risk of sounding like an idiot.