A recent comment on this blog suggested I start a TikTok channel with my grandmother. For that to happen, I would have to explain the concept of the internet and social media to her, not to mention learn how to use it myself. I have previously tried to get her to understand social media but we’ve only managed to get as far as: ‘being on Facebook is not the same as being on TV’.

This came up because, a few years ago, while she was on holiday in France someone had asked her what she thought of the ongoing Brexit referendum row. She’d had rather a lot of wine (of course) and had apparently been very rude about the whole thing, much to everyone’s amusement. The conversation had been posted on Facebook and grandma had somehow understood it meant she’d been on TV. We had a very confusing and amusing conversation about it until my mother painted a clearer picture of what had actually happened.

Grandma’s biggest, and funniest, levels of tech ignorance come from TV and films. For example, she was completely baffled at the marvellous makeup of the Orcs in the Lord of Rings movies and wondered how they got James McAvoy to stand on ‘those goat legs’ in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe film. While watching TV one evening, she said: ‘I wonder how they get those hippos to swim around the BBC sign in circles like that.’ Referring to the BBC1 logo at the time. 

‘They’re not real hippos Grandma! It’s done with a computer.’ I answered, giggling

‘I don’t think so. I don’t think the BBC would do that.’ She said indignantly.

I didn’t argue back, I like for her to wonder how they had trained those hippos to swim in perfect formation, and film it. 

She also thinks all TV shows (except for her favourite detective dramas) are live. She says things like: ‘ Gosh, Fiona Bruce must be cold! She’s only wearing a dress and we’re in the middle of winter.’ In front of Antiques Roadshow. Or ‘They’re having a lovely evening tonight on Bake Off’.

I smile to myself, not wanting to explain they had been filmed months earlier. It is more fun for her to think everything is happening live.

My main concern about getting my very analog grandma on TikTok, is that she has the potential of saying something that will get us both cancelled in a heartbeat!