Did you know that I have an alter ego on Instagram?

It’s true. I lead a double life. By day, I’m the high-minded journalist you’ve come to know on this page. But I moonlight on Insta as something called a “pro-age influencer.” If you wanted to be to be less euphemistic, you could call me an “old-age spokesmodel.” I write about aging, demonstrate products made for older women, flaunt my gray hair and exploit my crow’s feet. I do it for fun, and I do it for money. I am shameless.

I’m letting you in on this unseemly side-hustle because something has been happening there, lately, that’s very unsettling, and I think it deserves an examination here in my “serious” space. I promise there will be no references to shampoo or moisturizer. Not many, anyway.

Because Instagram is an international platform, I have followers from all over the world. A surprising number of them are young men from Nigeria. (Go figure?) But most of them hail from my “target audience” –  women in middle age and beyond. And over the past couple of years, lots of them have become my friends.

We encourage each other in our various adventures in aging, sharing tips about skincare, supplements, hot flashes and such. It’s a very “Go, girl!” kind of community. We support and inspire. What we DON’T do is talk politics. Ever.

So, unlike Facebook and X, Instagram has been a respite for me. An escape. Until now.

Y’all, the unthinkable has happened. American politics has invaded my safe space.

I started noticing the change a week or so ago. An IG friend who calls herself “The Silver Canuck” posted a photo of herself dressed all in red, with red lipstick, brandishing a Canadian flag.

“Tough times call for more national pride, more unity, and more RED,” she wrote. “Right now, it feels like 41-million people really are Team Canada – and that’s one of the best things I have witnessed in all my 56 years. In the end, friendship and cooperation will win.”

I wasn’t quite sure what she was referencing – she’s usually hawking activewear or waterproof mascara – so I perused the comments following her post.

“We are hoping it’ll all work out.”

“Go Canada! “

“Elbows up, my northern friend!”

“American here and I’m Team Canada!”

And then I got it. Duh. They were talking about the tariffs. The trade war. The one MY country was waging against HER country for reasons that are still unclear to me. This wasn’t about lipstick or red yoga pants.

Another friend, this one from France, had posted a serious-looking self-portrait – complete with reading glasses – with a caption I couldn’t translate at first. I assumed she was offering some words of wisdom or affirmation. After all, that’s what we do in the pro-age community! Maybe she was even promoting those glasses. They were on point!

I hit Translate and read, “Soon America will be alone in its corner, I think, since it treats its allies so badly.”

Ack! This was not a Peepers ad.

Following her post were many comments – in several different languages – basically saying the same thing: “Hear, hear!”

Let me emphasize, once more, how infrequently the women in my Instagram community talk politics. In fact, the only time we ever mention the word “politics” is to say how glad we are that we don’t talk politics!

These are not stupid, shallow women, mind you. Some of them are less interested in politics than others, but most of them are simply women who – like me – get their fill of political debate elsewhere and have chosen to keep this space free of rancor and division.

Not that there was much rancor or division going on in that French woman’s thread. Everybody there pretty much agreed that America suddenly sucks. Including the Americans.

The point I’m trying to make is that the chaotic beginning of the new Trump administration has thrown the world for a serious loop. Not just the political world. The world.

Theoretically, I knew this already. I watch the news, read the papers, and consume copious amounts of commentary.  I knew how various leaders were responding to our shifting foreign and economic policies.

But it wasn’t until I read the comments of these “normie” women from around the globe – my friends and fellow eye cream samplers, who never talk politics – that it really hit me. Here at home, the new Trump administration seems like an ongoing earthquake, but the shock waves are being felt ‘round the world. Even people who don’t pay attention are paying attention.

And the ill will toward our country is palpable.

It is both by nature and by cultivated habit that I never rush to judgment. I do not, nor have I ever, suffered from “TDS.” I have dear friends and family members who assure me that our president knows what he’s doing – with Mexico, with Canada, with our European allies, even with Russia. Those friends and family members know that I will love them no matter what, even if it turns out they’re wrong about Trump, which I desperately hope they are not. But our mutual love makes it hard for me to write anything critical of Trump; his supporters take that criticism personally. Years of unfair treatment by the media – yes, that’s real – have made them extremely defensive and sensitive. This I understand.

Having said that, some of the most stalwart Trump supporters in my life have recently expressed private worries – which worries me.

And then there’s this. Last week, we received the following email from the Post & Courier, which prints both of our small, local papers – Lowcountry Weekly and The Island News:

Dear Valued Customer,

The U.S. Government has imposed a 25% Tariff on all Canadian made products entering the USA effective March 4th. As a result of this tariff, The Post and Courier is unable to absorb the costs and must pass the tariff cost on to our customers. The increase is on the Newsprint consumable only. We are reviewing our customers’ weekly invoices and typical print order and will provide the estimated increase to each customer individually. The increase is effective immediately. If the tariff is repealed or reversed, we will adjust the consumable newsprint cost accordingly.

After a few days of panic on our end, Trump postponed the tariffs ‘til April 2, and we got a reprieve. But as far as we know, it’s only temporary, so we’re still very much on edge. Along with the rest of the civilized world.

Since a 25% increase in the price of newsprint would be crushing to our small business, I’m thinking I’d better step up my Instagram gig, ASAP. Anybody out there in the market for an old-age spokesmodel?

If so, I’m your girl.