Google fast replacing grandparents as 'advice guru'

LONDON: Modern-day kids are increasingly turning to the Internet to solve queries about simple chores rather than seeking advice from their experienced grandparents, a new UK survey has claimed.


Older generations are being replaced by Google, Wikipedia and YouTube, with their grandchildren searching online to solve queries about basic chores, researchers found.

Less than one in four grandparents said they have been asked for advice on basic domestic chores such as washing clothes, learning to cook a family recipe or sewing a button.

Just a third of those surveyed said they had been asked "what was it like when you were young?".

Ninety-six per cent said they asked far more questions of their grandparents when they were young, The Telegraph reported.

The survey of 1,500 grandparents found that children are instead increasingly using the Internet to answer simple questions.

It found almost two thirds of grandparents feel their traditional role is becoming less and less important in modern family life.

"Grandparents believe they are being sidelined by Google, YouTube, Wikipedia and the huge resource of advice available on the internet," said Susan Fermor, of cleaning specialist Dr Beckmann, which commissioned the research.

"They are aware that their grandchildren - already with their noses buried in a laptop, tablet computer or smartphone - find it much easier to search the Internet for instant advice," Fermor said.

"Previous generations of grandparents haven't experienced this phenomena because the internet is still very much in its infancy and is less than a generation old in real terms," Fermor added.