Everyday Ageism: CHRISTA D’SOUZA asks why should people be discriminated against for not taking to Zoom

• Dennis Baxter, 90, was ‘sacked’ from his councillor position for not using Zoom
• Betty Boothroyd, 91, is being investigated for not attending a course via Zoom 
• UK-based columnist Christa D’Souza argues against ageist discrimination  

It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young . . .

I zoom. You Zoom. We all Zoom. And if you do not Zoom, then prepare to be discriminated against. Take Dennis Baxter, 90, who was ‘sacked’ from his councillor position for not using Zoom.

Or, indeed, the venerable, not to mention women’s rights championing, Betty Boothroyd, 91, who is under investigation for not attending an online sexual harassment course because she doesn’t do Zoom either.

Christa D’Souza (pictured) argues against ageist discrimination related to struggling to use Zoom

I do happen to Zoom, but I’m not proficient at it, frequently forgetting to unmute myself and getting a bit flustered when it comes to signing off. Those long Chekhovian goodbyes because I can never find the leave meeting bar; they do my head in.

People like me have inspired a vibrant ageist meme culture. But why should we be discriminated against for not taking to it like ducks to water? The point is we’re not meant to; it’s against nature, looking at each other for hours at a time.

Indeed, from a physiological standpoint, as one Stanford University study suggests, it triggers a response to fight . . . or mate. If that’s true, I’m not surprised even its founder, Eric Yuan, has admitted Zoom fatigue.

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