Hi. I’m a 23-year-old college graduate that loves working with social media, both on a recreational and professional level. I came across an article over at Inc.com with a headline that seemed like it was meant for me, except for the fact that it blatantly stated that I have no place running a company’s social media. Needless to say, I found it difficult to read this article without getting a bit angry.

As someone who is two years out of college and still hasn’t had a full-time job, I’m quite familiar with the feeling of sending out plenty of job applications, and not hearing back from a single one. So, because of the fact that this article could increase the amount of difficulty I’ll face in getting a job, I felt the need to express my thoughts on some of the points the article makes and how they are a poor representation of myself and the many people in my position.

They may be focused on their own social media activity

Yes, I have various social media accounts that I like to update daily. That doesn’t mean I don’t know when to put them away for my job. Additionally, I see a lot more older people signing up for social media accounts these days. So, because they’re older and more mature, their social media activity won’t need to be monitored as much as mine?

They may not have the same etiquette–or experience

This point argues, “You need to make sure your posts reflect your brand–and that you don’t wind up with a late-night smartphone photo landing in the wrong account.”

Yes, because Anthony Weiner posted those sexting pictures when he was 23 years old.

Photo: Big Government

You can’t control their friends

So my friends might get a hold of my phone or computer and accidentally post something on the company social media account. Well, if that’s the case, keep the iPads away from the babies! Because really, who knows what they can post?

Photo: SlashGear

No class can replace on-the-job training

“I need more experience to get a job, but nobody wants to give me any experience.”

It’s the worst Catch 22 of my generation, and this article helps fuel it. If most 23-year-olds are like me, then by the time they’re 23, they’re no longer “fresh out of college.” Most people my age, in fact, are either jobless or are working positions they are over-qualified for.

In between internships and some freelance positions, I have been working in food service for about a year and five months. In that time, I’ve learned much about marketing, customer service, crisis management, and other skills this article says I’m lacking because of my age. What are those skills, you may ask? Feel free to contact me personally, as that topic itself requires its own post.

Communication skills are critical

This is so ridiculous I don’t even know why it’s being touted as a valid point against young people. In college alone, I’ve learned to effectively communicate with different types of people. I’ve learned how to mediate a situation where two roommates are fighting. I’ve learned how to listen to someone who might be experiencing a large amount of stress or depression. I’ve learned how to split my attention to effectively guide ten incoming college students to picking out a class schedule that works for them. I’ve learned how to talk to parents who are experiencing extreme anxiety over their child going to college. I’ve learned how to talk to my university’s health center to convince them to carry a certain brand of condom with a responsible social mission.

So excuse me if I have trouble accepting the fact that I don’t know how to communicate because I’m young.

Humor is tricky business

Yes, tell that to Adam Smith, the guy who verbally abused a Chick-fil-A employee on video about the recent controversy on the company’s standpoint on gay marriage. I’m sure he thought this would be humorous to the people that would view the video. Call me crazy, but he doesn’t look that young to me.

Spoiler alert: Smith, former Vante CFO, was fired after his video went viral.

There are many other points the article tries to make, and if you want to check them out, feel free to visit the article. And while the article does make some valid points on what to look out for when hiring someone to manage social media, I think it’s absolutely absurd that these points should be limited to just young people. So if this article does indeed make it harder for me to land a job, then I hope Hollis Thomases is happy that she succeeded.

What do you think about all this? Let me know in the comments below!