Zero social media presence except for LinkedIn.

So, I’ve had zero social media presence except for LinkedIn. For the past two years, I’ve been working remotely and independently with my boss, communicating primarily through WhatsApp. Recently, I was asked to temporarily (around 3-4 months) collaborate with a team of Filipino freelancers after a Nigerian VA was fired for blackmailing a client. I agreed to help out for three months, but this would be my first time working with a team—I’d only interacted directly with my boss and his clients before. This is some kind of favor from my boss to add to my role and be an executive assistant but for specific responsibilities lang.

Now, here’s the thing: I don’t have any social media accounts, and during a Zoom meeting with the team, they asked for my Facebook or Instagram accounts to add me to their group chat. When I said I didn’t have any, they seemed to think I was lying because, apparently, everyone my age has social media (I’m only 24). I deleted my Facebook back in senior high school, and I never got into IG or TikTok. I explained that my instructors adapted for me during online classes, so I mostly used email and communicated via text. My ex-friends would send me school updates on WhatsApp and we had a university website for exams and submissions.

They still didn’t believe me and joked that it was impossible not to have Facebook, especially since I had online classes. One comment even felt a bit offensive, like they thought I was a snob or hiding something. Someone even said along the lines, “You must be boring.”

I’m already on Slack and have shared my WhatsApp number, so I don’t see why they need my Facebook at all. It’s made me feel a bit shy about communicating with them regarding work because I worry about what they think of me. And maldita ako or mayabang? It would be my first time working with Filipinos too. And is this a normal Filipino thing? They are friendly and make meetings lively, hindi strict, but is it normal to ask for social media accounts?

And, is having no social media presence a red flag when you’re working? Do you really need a social media account for your job?