Maybe I’m being harsh, but on the whole, social media does maybe seem best left to the younger generation...

I was at a dinner last week with a load of people that, quite frankly, are getting on a bit, and the virtues and pitfalls of Facebook were discussed passionately around the table.

Almost all of us had a Facebook account, although most of us would only confess to dabbling with it occasionally (liars). But every single one of us, Facebook user or not, had stories to snigger about.

Absolutely everyone could identify, or knew about, a Facebook bragger.

This is someone utterly obsessed with material goods who feels the need to post photos of events like designer shopping sprees – and the prize of course goes to the person who can fit the most Prada bags on one arm.

This sort also makes very regular posts that they hope suggest immense wealth and a dazzling lifestyle.

Example: “Wow, what a terrible day, just popped out to pick up a crate of fizz and not only did the Merc have a blow-out but the bloody cat found the caviar”.

Oh give us a break. If your life is that great how come you have time to tap it all into your phone every five minutes?

Then there’s the type that feel the need to reinforce their immense popularity.

Why on earth, on a social media site, do you need to thank a friend for that bunch of flowers or inviting you round for a meal?

They might not even see it. But hey, never mind, at least your 247 online friends will get to realise just how wonderful, and worth it, you really are.

Surely a phone call or a card in the post is a far nicer token of appreciation and far more appropriate. Unless of course the flowers too were virtual?

One woman round the table complained (she was very attractive) about having girlfriends that always want to take numerous photos together at each and every outing – every sip of wine punctuated with a pose for a phone held at arm’s length.

She remembered when it took two whole weeks to get a film developed at the chemists. Now however, before she even gets home, several hundred strangers have seen photographic evidence of her nibbling a prawn she’s not yet had chance to digest.

Those of us lucky enough to be permitted online friendship with their offspring envy the way they use social media.

It is as natural to them as breathing and it’s reflected in the way they share news, banter and gossip together.

I am of course just generalising.

Many over 40s have not only embraced this medium but have taken it by storm and are constantly witty and entertaining – but at what cost to their real life I wonder...

And yes, I am just jealous – posting photos of my purchases from Primark just doesn’t cut the mustard.