Connecting with your family

Joining the pixels part II

April 18, 2024

Introduction

From the very beginning, our goal at BackThen has been not to just help families capture moments but to cultivate connections that last a lifetime. In April 2024, following our previous Pulse survey looking at the positive impact of photo therapy on a child’s mental wellbeing, we were curious to find out how the grandparent community inside BackThen use and enjoy the app.

As before, we wanted to peel back the layers of everyday interactions and discover where those moments of magic live inside the realms of photo therapy. The findings proved again the undeniable power of connecting with your family through digital imagery. In particular, much to our amusement, these results showed the “cheekier” side of the third generation. We discovered how much they relish in the mischief and mayhem that goes hand in hand with watching the younger generation grow up. And although over half of grandparents said they felt distant from their grandchildren’s lives, nearly nine out of ten of them are embracing technology to fight that family FOMO.

When we first looked at photo therapy back in November 2023, our community told us that photographs mean more than just static images. In this study, we see how these are a gateway for the extended members of the family to feel part of what’s going on and to be gentle observers on the pattern of family life. What is undeniable is that at a stage in their lives where free time is in abundance, the more involved grandparents feel by playing a nurturing role in their grand children’s lives, the better.

92% attested to the fact that their bond with their grandchildren intensifies when they look at a photo, video or story timeline of their lives so far.

We like to remember things together,

said one grandparent.

Plus I really like the ability to be able to add photos myself, as do the other grandparents. The older boys stay with us during school holidays, several days at a time, so it enables us to share photos of what they're getting up to, picnics, visits, lunch out etc. for their mummy and daddy to see too.

So we know that digital platforms perform a key role in helping silver surfers to carry out their role as grandparents – and that this ‘role' is changing too. Whereas once grandparents might have focused on being the bastions of the family's heritage, 31% told us is that what they want to do is bring joy into their grandchildren’s lives by celebrating their achievements. Possibly one of our favourite insights was that 18% of grandparents put their hands up to shining a spotlight on the mischief and rule-breaking their grandchildren can be consistently relied upon for.

Methodology

The Pulse Business surveyed a sample size of c11,000 grandparents across the UK, in April 2024.

Joining the pixels part II - Connecting with your family

Our six question Pulse investigated how this section of the family tier use BackThen to boost the number of everyday interactions with their loved ones. Over half agreed that looking at photos or commenting on new events or moments does much to reduce pangs of loneliness when not physically in the room with everyone. Two thirds said, unequivocally, that the act of looking at a photo helps them feel a more intimate part of what’s going on. We also saw a strong response in terms of how grandparents use BackThen to contribute positively to family life - ranging from being an emotional bedrock through to being the loudest applause when special moments happen.

Here are the results in full and a selection of the comments our users shared:


1. DO YOU EVER FEEL DISTANT FROM WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR GRANDCHILDREN'S LIVES?

My daughter started BackThen when her first child was born and it was absolutely fantastic to see daily pictures. We are over two hours drive away, so we couldn't just pop in to see our grandson. Then she added her second child and again, fantastic to see him growing up too. They're five years and four years old. My son has just had his first child, another little grandson for us and has joined BackThen so now we see his baby too. My son also lives over two hours away so again, we aren't able to just drop in. BackThen offers a fantastic service, enabling everyone who has access, the chance to see daily progress, any events, school stuff, holidays etc and join in with the fun. All of the grandparents have been added to their respective grandchildren and we all love it, plus the opportunity to comment on and 'love' extra special moments captured on film.

2. WHEN YOU DON'T CONNECT OR CATCH UP WITH YOUR FAMILY OR GRANDCHILDREN, HOW LONELY DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

I don’t feel lonely as I talk to their parents all the time and I’ve got family around me with a busy active life. I just miss being physically closer. But the app is brilliant and I look at every single post.
Connectivity is one of my strengths and if I don’t regularly do this with my children and their children I do get sad. But it rarely happens.

3. WHEN YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS OF YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, HOW MUCH, IF AT ALL, DOES THIS HELP YOU FEEL LESS LONELY?

When I see photos videos of my grandchildren it gives me a big smile to see what they are doing and how they are growing.
It lonely but feel like the pictures are a beautiful way to share the life and growth of my grandson. Pictures make me happy.

4. WHEN YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS OF YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, HOW MUCH, IF AT ALL, DOES THIS AFFECT HOW CONNECTED YOU FEEL TO YOUR FAMILY?


5. WHEN IT COMES TO SEEING AND ENGAGING WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, WHICH OF THESE, IF ANY, IS THE BIGGEST BENIFIT OF USING BACKTHEN?

Being able to share in their lives even when I’m not there - and to have a record of their chronological development.
Grandparents can provide emotional support even from a great distance and we can praise and comment on all the delightful things we have seen on Back Then.

6. DO YOU BELIEVE THE BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GRANDCHILD/CHILDREN INTENSIFIES WHEN YOU ALL LOOK AT A PHOTO TIMELINE OF THEIR LIVES SO FAR?

💡
Photographs are emotional triggers that help to reinforce bonding.
Yes, I do, particularly as they grow and develop. When the first one was 18 months old, we planted a Christmas tree together in a pot it was merely a twig. It has grown and developed and now he is heading 5 each Christmas we go out and see it in the garden and talk about what has happened during the past 12 months or so, and what he thinks the next 12 months may bring for him. We have completed the same for his younger brother (a different type of Christmas Tree) but it has started off as a twig and next year we will have the same conversations with both of them, at the right level of course. But this is timeline planning. And brings a number of disciplines into the fun activity.

Conclusion

We know there is an undeniable power with photography to be the emotional fortification for shaping and maintaining family bonds. This is what BackThen’s founder, Ed Botterill had to say:

It’s a strange thing how the world keeps getting smaller and yet it is harder for different generations to see each other. Grandparents deserve to watch their grandchildren grow up. These authentic moments of love form the milestones of a child’s journey. While there’s no replacement for real interaction, it’s wonderful to see how this generation is embracing tech to keep in touch and how this is helping to stave off their feelings of loneliness.

We will continue to invest in BackThen to improve your experience of the app and introduce new ways for you to use the technology to keep bringing you closer to the ones you love. A picture is worth a thousand words. Your comments and thoughts are a positive testimony to this - thank you!

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