Overview

• A OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK adults found more than half of young people seek advice from grandparents several times a month, often communicating via WhatsApp or FaceTime.
• Respondents most associated grandparents with skills and qualities including cooking (46%), gardening (42%), giving advice (38%), storytelling (33%), patience (35%) and saving money (21%).
• Seventy-eight percent said technology helps them feel closer to grandparents, with three-quarters reporting their grandparents are online and 51% regularly speaking via mobile.
• Eighty percent said grandparents ask them for tech help, yet two-thirds believe older relatives are more tech-savvy than credited, with common lessons including video calls (45%), social media (35%) and online banking (34%).
• Three’s Three Discovery programme is offering free in-store digital training for older people ahead of Silver Sunday on October 5 to support staying connected.