A 71-year-old's poetic response to whether attraction changes with age is achingly beautiful

Spending hours on social media can distort our understanding of true beauty. Constant exposure to filtered images that mask perceived imperfections, like blemishes, fine lines, and wrinkles, can blur the lines of what attractiveness really means, especially when it comes to aging. However, the internet also offers space for more meaningful conversations about beauty. Recently, the Twitter account @PicturesFoIder posed a question that resonated with millions: “When you get older, do old people become attractive to you? Like when I’m 70, are 70-year-old men gonna look hot? This is a real concern of mine.”

While many people responded, it was a 71-year-old's poignant reply that truly stood out. Their tweet began, "I'm 71 years old... as I've gained my decades, at 30, teenagers looked like kids but 20-30 looked good. 40 looked old. When I was in my 40s the 50-year-olds started to look pretty darn good... and so on, but when I was in my 40s I realized if I didn't see some wrinkles they didn't look finished."

Twitter user Lee Grain (@saltedants) added that they noticed a different kind of beauty with age, explaining: "Now at 71, I see beauty that is hard to get into words... like a great work of art it takes my breath away, life is written on a body, hard labor, sorrow, even joy, happiness, fear... it's all right there in front of me... and I swear to God, the beauty, the price we pay in our physical appearance, it's like when you look at a newborn, you admire the perfection. In old age you admire the work it took to get there... and it's beautiful. Hope that helps."

Many Twitter users were grateful to read this perspective. @emilyjames808 responded, "This is such a beautiful concept and an illustration of the capacity to recognize aging as something beautiful and meaningful." Younger people were also grateful for the response that gave them insight into aging as a process to look forward to and not something to fear. @EvaZelle said, "There’s an unspoken beauty that comes through after I’ve sat with an older person. And it’s quite charming to fall in love with the truth of an individual who’s lived through times and seen things that I’ve seen or have yet to."

@Thicc_Skulll added, “I’m in my twenties and I completely agree. There’s an unmatchable beauty in wrinkles and signs of age. Wish more women my age and teens understood this so we could live with grace and joy, not overly obsessed with looks and weight. Maturity is priceless.”

Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 9, 2023. It has since been updated.