Seniors storming socials

Seventy-nine-year-old Nick Rendina from Leeton in New South Wales is not your typical social media influencer, but he is among a growing cohort of seniors who are gaining an impressive following on the World Wide Web. 

The lively Italo-Australian lives with his wife, Zina, and spends most of his time in the garden or cooking with his homegrown produce. Nick’s daughter, Nadia, who lives next door with her husband and sons, is the reason behind Nick’s rise as a social media star. 

Zina explains, “Our other daughter and her children live further north, so I suggested our daughter Nadia should video her dad so the kids can see some of the interesting things he does in the garden and the kitchen. 

“It was just said in passing, but then Nadia had the impetus to put one of the videos on YouTube, and then she put it on Instagram. When it went on Instagram, it really took off. And so, she and Nick kept it up, mainly because of all the wonderful comments people left saying the videos made their day.” 

Known as The Happy Harvester, Nick has amassed a legion of loyal fans, with 162,000 followers on Instagram, 2,870 subscribers on YouTube, and 2,424 followers on TikTok. 

While Nadia works behind the scenes taking the videos, editing footage, and handling the social media accounts, Nick’s the star of the show. 

“Nick is just so himself. I think it’s something fresh on Instagram,” Zina explains. 

“It's because he's not edited, he's not putting on a show, he's not scripted in any way. He’s just sharing wisdom and his own life experiences. It’s just the things he does in his everyday life.” Nick says, 

“I think people actually enjoy seeing the old way of doing things. I get so many comments about the way I mulch my garden or the tools I make myself.” 

“One of the comments that sticks out in my mind was something along the lines of Nick’s happiness and positivity being contagious,” Zina says. 

“That makes us feel good. We also get a lot of comments from people saying he reminds them of their Nonno (‘grandfather’ in Italian) and that makes us so happy.” 

But Nick says his status as a senior influencer won’t change him one bit. “I don’t let it go to my head, all the attention,” he laughs.

Melbourne-based friends Ginger and Carman are using social media to reframe the way the world views women over the age of 60. 

During a girls’ trip to Paris, the stylish pals began posting videos of their outfits and adventures on TikTok. They now boast over 340,000 followers on the platform and another 19,400 on Instagram. 

“We found older Parisian women and their street style inspiring, and before we knew it, we started documenting our fashion sense and our adventures in Australia online,” they wrote in an op-ed for SBS. 

“It was then that we realised how refreshing and freeing it was to not make plans, allow ourselves to get sidetracked and go on what we now call 'escapades'. At our age, spontaneity and curiosity is the elixir of youth. 

“Invisibility doesn't even get a thought. When you start doing your own thing and you are in your own flow, it can feel very energising. Ginger and Carman was born from this newfound freedom. Our TikTok and Instagram posts are about keeping our energy alive, staying connected, and inspiring other women to also step out of their comfort zones at any age. 

“Our most rewarding revelation is that we are empowering young women. We seem to be inspiring them and giving them hope for the future, with comments like ‘I want to be you when I grow up’, ‘Goals!’, and ‘Queens’. 

“They serve as great reminders of just how powerful social media can be in inspiring others to embrace life, their uniqueness, and the good that can come from visibility—especially on a platform like TikTok, which has traditionally been dominated by younger generations.”

Sydneysiders Robert and May Leong, aged 80 and 68 respectively, along with their son Terence, 35, are the comedic couple behind the popular social handle robandmay, with almost 88,000 followers on Instagram and 53,800 on TikTok. 

Among their international fans are superstar Taylor Swift and actor Jennifer Garner, both of whom have liked and shared their videos.

Their hilarious skits reference Asian parenting, ageing, and Australian pop culture, with videos such as Tell me you have low iron without telling me, When you’re told you’re too old to be a QANTAS kid, and When your immigrant family is just as terrifying as Wednesday Addams.

The underlying message? Laugh, and the world laughs with you.

“Think of me as your warm hug on a lonely day,” 73-year-old Connecticut resident Barbara Costello, or Brunch With Babs as she is known to her followers, writes of her purpose on social media. 

The former kindergarten teacher didn’t even have social media when her daughter, Liz, suggested she post videos on TikTok. 

“My gut reaction was immediately, ‘No, thank you’. But Liz insisted I could teach people about cooking,” she says. Now, she’s known as the ‘internet’s favourite grandma’, posting motherly advice and tips on housekeeping, cooking, hosting, manners, and more. 

Since amassing almost 4 million followers on Instagram, she’s even published a book with Penguin and has her own agent. 

Costello’s fans love her warmth and humour, with comments like, “Please adopt me (I’m a 37-year-old mother of two)” and “Thank you for sharing your recipes, love, and smile!”. 

Never learned to change a tyre, or tie a necktie? 

These are real-life problems faced by many people, particularly the younger generations. 

But if it’s fatherly advice you’re chasing, look no further than Dad Advice From Bo. 

Here, Washington father of six and grandfather of three, Bo Petterson, shares useful advice videos on TikTok and Instagram, with topics ranging from how to drive safely in snowy conditions to how best to level your lawn. 

His videos are shot, edited, and posted by his daughter, Emily, who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury. 

Bo’s advice is warm and practical, and always signed off “Love, Dad”. 

He even offers all-important encouragement to his followers: “You’re doing a good job, I’m proud of you, and everything is going to be okay,” he says in one video. 

For some, Bo’s words are extra meaningful. “My father passed when I turned 18 two years ago, and these videos really help,” one commenter wrote. 

Video topics come from Bo’s projects around the house, lessons he’s taught his own kids, as well as suggestions from followers. 

Bo is now so popular that he’s garnered paid partnership deals with big brands, with proceeds going towards 

Emily’s brain injury treatment and rehabilitation. 

Among their followers are many fellow brain injury survivors, who share resources and information.

While social media gets a bad rap sometimes, it’s also a great way to educate and entertain. If you have something useful or fun to share, why not put yourself out there? 

You never know… you could be the next senior social media influencer!

This article is featured in National Seniors Australia’s quarterly member magazine, Our Generation. 

Become a member today and receive a yearly subscription to Our Generation digital magazine as part of your membership, along with exclusive discounts, competitions, branch access and more! 

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