By skyforbes 
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be swiping through TikTok for inspiration and insights, I might have laughed. TikTok? For me? Wasn’t that just where teens danced to pop songs and did challenges I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) pronounce?
But the truth is, platforms like TikTok aren’t just for the next generation — they’re where everyone is showing up, experimenting, learning, and sometimes, yes, dancing.
As someone who has built a career on understanding how people connect online — through SMTULSA, client projects, and classrooms — I know that relevance isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about tuning in. Listening. Adapting. And most importantly, staying curious.
When I started spending more time on TikTok, I noticed something: the content that stuck with me wasn’t always flashy. It was people showing up as themselves. Telling stories. Teaching something. Sharing joy. And that’s when it clicked. The platform may change, but the heart of social media hasn’t.
TikTok reminded me:
- To embrace imperfection. A good idea beats a perfect filter.
- To stay teachable. The moment you think you’ve figured it all out, the algorithm shifts.
- To show up. Not as who you think you’re supposed to be, but who you are today.
In my 50s, I’m not trying to go viral. I’m trying to stay in the room. To participate. To listen. To share. To mentor. To learn. Because staying relevant isn’t about being the loudest voice. It’s about being present.
So yes, I scroll TikTok. I learn from creators younger than me and connect with those walking a similar path. I test tools, try new formats, and yes, every now and then, I might just do a dance video for fun.
If you’re feeling unsure about joining the latest platform, remember: You don’t have to be the trend. Just be open. Relevance is a result of staying engaged with the world, not pretending to be someone you’re not.
And that, my friends, is something no algorithm can fake.