Feeling old on Facebook: an autoethnographic analysis of ageism among younger people towards their peers

Abstract Population aging and the proliferation of numerous social networking sites such as Facebook (FB) have necessitated different approaches to investigating age-based discrimination called ageism. Although current evidence provided information on younger adults’ attitudes towards older adults, little is known about individuals’ their peers in a digital sphere. This autoethnographic study, conducted November 2020, aimed at understanding FB user’s ( n = 37) peers, manifestation plausible facets I posted public status using specific feature feeling old my Wall analyzed comments (both emoticons textual) by others relation post/status. The study guided theoretical lens symbolic interpretive anthropology. Results showed (a) users age stereotyped negative considering status, (b) used expressed more compared textual comments. Both findings indicated potential connection an internalized sense ‘young’ ‘old’ that embedded socially grounded stereotypes. Future research platforms can be carried out targeting own group order understand risk emergence ‘digital ageism’.