Grandparents getting more tech savvy

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LONDON, June 8 (UPI) -- Older people are increasingly using the Internet to communicate, a survey in Britain indicated Friday.

The survey commissioned by Fayre & Square indicated 33 percent of Britons communicate with their grandparents or other older relatives through e-mail, text messages or Facebook.

Twenty percent of those polled said they believe the average grandparent has become more technologically savvy in the past five years.

"Many people over a certain age may shy away from embracing new technology so it's encouraging that many grandparents are staying in touch by modern means," Fayre & Square spokeswoman Sally Wainwright said.

The poll indicated 25 percent of grandparents in Britain own a smartphone, 10 percent regularly use Skype and 15 percent regularly use Facebook.

"Grandparents and great-grandparents are the lynchpin of any family and it's incredibly important to keep in regular contact with them by whatever means -- whether it be e-mail, Facebook or a family dinner in the local pub," Wainwright said.

Fayre & Square polled 2,000 people. The date of the survey and the margin of error were not provided.