OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2015 | Page 22

(Active Ageing)

HOW AUSSIE GRANDPARENTS
ARE CONNECTING
AVG Technologies share their survey results revealing how Aussie
grandparents are connecting with their grandchildren these days.

rom the most recent AVG Digital
Diaries study among Boomers and
Seniors, of those with grandchildren, half
of those surveyed feel technology makes
it easier to communicate with them.

F

The study, released by AVG Technologies
(NYSE: AVG), the online security
company™ for more than 200 million
active users, reveals that Australia’s
grandparents are using email (41 per
cent), texts (34 per cent) and video
conferencing tools like Skype (29 per
cent) to keep in touch with their
grandchildren.
Just under half (46 per cent) of Aussie
Boomers and Seniors with grandchildren
say that, thanks to technology, they are
able to communicate more with their
grandchildren than they did with their
grandparents. And there are a number
(16 per cent) that spend more time
communicating with their loved ones
online, rather than face-to-face.
Grandparents have recognised that
today’s children face a vastly more
connected world than the one they grew
up in and this is reflected in the advice
they told AVG they were giving.

22

JUNE 2015 ( OH! MAGAZINE )

As they take an active role creating a
safer Internet and better online habits for
young family members, they are being
vocal in urging their grandchildren to
restrict what they share online (50 per
cent), to talk to an adult if anything
upsetting happens online (46 per cent),
and to remember that everything they
post will be there forever (43 per cent).
Importantly, grandparents also advised
their grandchildren to think about how
much time they spend online (40 per
cent). ‘In today’s busy world, parents
have a tendency to use technology as a
babysitter,’ says Michael McKinnon,
AVG’s Security Awareness Director.
‘Whereas, because grandparents were
brought up in a tech-free era, they are
perhaps more aware of the benefits of
limiting the time young eyes and brains
spend online. As easy as technology
makes staying in touch, there is no
substitute for real life connections.’

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For what advice they give your
grandchildren about technology, the
results were as follows:
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Of those who have grandchildren (63 per
cent of the sample):

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41 per cent communicate with them
via email
34 per cent via text

29 per cent via Skype or other video
conferencing
5 per cent via communication apps
such as Whatsapp!
8 per cent have bought an app (for a
phone or tablet) as a present for
their grandchildren
33 per cent have played games with
their grandchildren on a device like
a phone or tablet.

Not to share too much information
online – 50 per cent
To tell their parents or grandparents
if anything upsetting happens online
– 46 per cent
To remember that everything they
post online will be there forever – 43
per cent
Not to visit any dangerous sites – 43
per cent
Not to talk to strangers – 42 per cent
Not to spend too much time online
– 40 per cent
33 per cent don’t give them any
advice.