On August 10^th, 2012 Hollis Thomases, a writer for Inc. Magazine, published an article titled “11 Reasons a 23-Year-Old Shouldn't Run Your Social Media.” You can read her gem of an article here. I am barely 22 years old with the title of The DSM Group’s Social Media Manager. So, after reading her ridiculous 11 reasons, I felt the need to respond to and defend my title (title, er, job!)

Round 1

They're not mature enough. 

I think that I'm mature for my age. You can ask anyone in the office and they'll agree. 

Round 2

They may be focused on their own social-media activity.

Anyone who is my Friend on Facebook or Follows me on Twitter would know that I don’t post much for myself. I post more for The DSM Group and our clients. (Honestly, by the time I get home I don’t want to even think about Facebook or Twitter or whatever other social media outlets I have worked with all day.) 

Round 3

They may not have the same etiquette or experience. 

Who has “experience” in social media? Schools don't offer classes, at least not the one I went too. My experience comes from growing up in this generation. 

Round 4

You can't control their friends.   

I am pretty sure I can't control yours either...or anyone’s for that matter. 

Round 5

No class can replace on-the-job training.

There was no social media department before I came to The DSM Group. Not only did I train myself...I'll provide on-the-job training to those who come after me. 

Round 6

They may not understand your business.

DSM = making media matter, the color orange & beer. See, I understand our business, and I become familiar with all of our clients and their branding BEFORE I set up their campaigns. I've been working here for over a year, if I don’t understand what The DSM Group is, we have major problems here.

Round 7

Communication skills are critical.

I majored in communications! Okay, I know it is not necessarily communication skills, but I am not a shy person and believe I can communicate effectively, without any stigmas related to my age. 

Round 8

Humor is tricky business.

The DSM Group’s social media channels have a pretty good balance of humor and seriousness. Humor usually comes from Darren and seriousness comes from me. 

Round 9

Social-media savvy is not the same as technical savvy.

I'm not quite sure why a social media savvy person needs to be tech savvy. I am not a technical savvy person and not being one has never interfered with what I do. That's why we do have a technical savvy person in the office, his name is Ryan. 

Round 10

Social-media management can become crisis management.

As social media manager, I've only experienced one crisis. I think it was handled perfectly. We knew we couldn’t delete the “bad” posts, otherwise they would just keep coming. So we simply acknowledged them and posted a few things to knock them down on our Facebook wall. Similar to what you do with SEO on Google. 

Round 11

You need to keep the keys.

The “keys” to all our social media outlets are up to date on an Excel sheet saved on The DSM Group’s server. Anyone who has access to the server has access to the “keys”. Also, if your company has a Facebook page, you know that there's no log in and password to access that page, it is controlled through Admins, and more than one person can be an Admin. 

My good ol’ friend Christine sent my response to Hollis to stick up for me! Needless to say Hollis still believes she is correct and sent Christine this in response: 

Hi Christine,

This is not a set-up, right?  I definitely appreciate the belly giggle, but you can understand why I wonder if it's for real, right?

How did you wind up with this wonderful young talent heading up your SM? And is she just working on internal SM efforts or client work too?  Oh dear...

My best,

Hollis

Over the past couple of days, other media outlets were responding to the article. 

I am not sure if you were keeping score, but I believe it is 11-0 Jessica. Some of you may beg to differ, but I even have other media outlets on my side!

About the Author: Jessica A child of the social media generation, Jessica just speaks the language, plain and simple. This is exactly why we snapped her up fresh out of school, well actually before. When she’s not exploring the dark and dingy underground life in New York City, you can find her stalking (not really) her favorite celebrities for autographs and photos, going to Yankee games (we think that if she gets a paper cut, she will bleed pinstripe) and enjoying reality shows from her “hood,” The Housewives of New Jersey and Glee. A B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Broadcasting, Advertising and Public Relations and minor in Marketing and Digital Studio Art makes her our secret weapon. Serving as the Social Media Manager for The DSM Group means that Jessica gets to do what everyone wishes they can do – sit on Facebook and Twitter all day and call it work!