Survey: Grandparents may get unfriended on Facebook

A new national survey of millennial grandchildren has found certain rules grandparents should abide by on social media.

Commissioned by Visiting Angels, the survey of 500 grandchildren, aged 18 to 34, revealed that while 89 percent of grandchildren enjoy having their grandparents on Facebook, approximately one out of three sometimes want to “unfriend” their grandparents and more than half, 54 percent, wish someone would show their grandparents how to appropriately use social media.

The top five Facebook “no-nos” for grandparents include:

Post Personal Stuff

• One in four respondents say their grandparents post too much information about their love and social life.

• More than one-third say their grandparents post dirty laundry about family feuds or finances.

Rant and Rave

• One out of five grandchildren said their grandparents can go “emoji crazy” in comments or posts.

• Thirty-three percent of respondents say they don’t like when their grandparents get too political or post too much about religion.

Tread on Personal Turf

• One in four respondents say it’s not cool when their grandparents tries to friend their friends.

• Thirty percent of grandchildren say it’s embarrassing when their grandparents post personal comments in public places like their timeline.

• Half of those surveyed say they don’t want their grandparents commenting on their social life.

• Almost one in four grandchildren said their grandparents should not comment about their appearance.

Spread Doom, Gloom and Guilt

• Twenty-five percent of grandchildren say they do not like to see grandparents post that they are lonely, unhappy, sick or sad.

• One out of five respondents say they don’t like to see comments about grandparent’s health, medical issues or procedures.

• One in four grandchildren say they feel guilty when grandma posts “Why don’t you visit or call more?”

Try to Act Cool

• Twenty-two percent say it’s not cool when their grandparents try to act cool with one respondent mentioning he wants to hide when his grandparents “COMMENT IN ALL CAPS.”

Despite all of the faux pas, 64 percent said they still love their grandparents, and it is nice to see their photos and share theirs with them.

“It’s no surprise the survey reveals grandchildren love their grandparents and they are a bit sensitive about what Grandma or Grandpa might post or see on Facebook. These are, after all, some of the most important people in their lives,” said Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels.