If you’re old enough, you probably remember coming home for the holidays—only to instantly become the unofficial family tech support. From setting up new gadgets to fixing the Wi-Fi and answering confusing internet questions, it was almost a tradition. But this challenge isn’t unique to our generation.
Someone asked, “Older people, what was the equivalent of teaching your grandparents to use the internet, when you were growing up?” — and the internet delivered some of the funniest and most nostalgic responses.
#1
“So you could be grocery shopping and call home to ask your husband what he wants for dinner?”
My great-grandmother was born in 1900 and lived into her late 90s. During a visit to her nursing home, my mom asked me to call my dad to remind him about dinner. I pulled out my bulky old cellphone, and my great-grandmother was instantly curious.
When I explained what it was, her face lit up with amazement. That’s when she asked the now-famous question above—completely fascinated by the idea of mobile phones. She even asked if she could try it herself.
She called her daughter, my great-aunt, and couldn’t stop talking about the wonders of modern technology. It was such a sweet moment, full of joy and connection.
My great-grandma passed away just a month before her 102nd birthday. She lived long enough to hold my son—her first great-great-grandchild. She was an incredible woman, and I miss her dearly.
WerewolfWriter, Guzov Ruslan / freepik
#2
“One of us left a GameBoy at my grandma’s house and she started playing on it. She loved it.”
What started as an accidental discovery turned into a full-blown obsession. After my grandma got hooked on the forgotten GameBoy we left behind, we all chipped in to buy her one of her own. She enjoyed it so much that she eventually started hiding it whenever the grandkids came over—just to protect her high score!
It was one of the sweetest and funniest things to witness. She truly made that GameBoy her own. Miss you, Nanny.
Ask_me_4_a_story, Gehirnfussel / flickr
#3
“I think the transition is that I (sixtyish) have noticed is that I expect technology to change.”
Today, many of us in our 60s have grown accustomed to constant innovation. New iPhones, smart devices, and digital features feel expected—even if they come without manuals and require us to figure things out on our own. Sure, I’m still a little disappointed we don’t have jetpacks, but overall, technology continues to bring moments of awe.
What sets us apart from the previous generation is how we expect that change. My parents didn’t. The rapid pace of technological advancement made it hard for them to adapt.
Here’s some perspective: three of my grandparents were born before the Wright brothers’ first flight—and yet, they lived to watch astronauts walk on the moon.
Now? I see a new feature in a car and b***h about its imperfections. Funny how quickly expectations evolve.
michiganvulgarian,katemangostar / freepik
#4
When my mom passed away in June 2018, I quickly realized that my dad had never used his debit cards—she had always taken care of everything financial.
We had to start from the basics. First, I took him to an ATM to practice withdrawing cash. Then we headed to a store so he could try using the card to pay for something. It was all completely new to him.
After his first contactless payment for a newspaper, he lit up and exclaimed: “My god! It’s soooo easy!!” The shopkeeper could barely hold back her laughter.
It was one of those moments that was both heartwarming and a little funny—a reminder of how fast the world moves and how we all learn at our own pace.
Thrusterstofull,standret / freepik
#5
I’ll never forget teaching my grandparents how to use their very first answering machine. It was a hilarious learning curve—and what ended up on their greeting message still makes me laugh to this day.
Instead of a simple “nobody is home” message, we got a full recording of them arguing over how to use the machine:
“I think this is the button? I already pushed it, Mary! Now what do you do! Damn contraption!”
It was funny, sweet, and so perfectly them. Just one of those priceless moments of watching older generations interact with new technology.
#6
My grandma was born in 1925, and she once shared a story I’ll never forget.
“Her 4th grade teacher told the class that in the future you’d be able to talk to a person across long distances while seeing them at the same time!”
She told me she remembered thinking it was the dumbest thing she’d ever heard. The idea seemed completely impossible back then.
Fast forward to today—we talk through FaceTime all the time. What once sounded like science fiction is now just a normal part of our everyday lives. It’s amazing how technology has transformed within one lifetime.
#7
There’s a beloved family story about my grandfather, a lifelong farmer who’s now in his 90s and still with us.
“Family legend has it that my farmer grandad tried to stop his first tractor by shouting ‘whoa!’ at it, like he would with his draft horse.”
Of course, the tractor didn’t listen—and both he and the machine ended up in the canal!
It’s a hilarious and heartwarming reminder of how challenging it was for older generations to transition from traditional farming methods to modern technology. And honestly, it’s one of our favorite stories to share.
RobertdeTorigni,EyeEm / freepik
#8
I only had maternal grandparents, and my grandfather passed away in 1992 when I was 14. I don’t remember ever teaching him anything—though I do remember sneaking a few of his unfiltered Pall-Malls when no one was looking.
My grandmother, on the other hand, lived until 2006. She had never driven a day in her life—there was simply no need while my grandfather was around.
“So at the ripe old age of 14 she threw my a*s in her little Ford and told me to teach her to drive.”
It didn’t seem to matter that I was only 14 and legally too young to drive, let alone teach anyone else. But that day, we both learned to drive. I’ll never forget it—one of those unforgettable bonding moments that sticks with you forever.
fry925,prostooleh / freepik
#9
My sweet grandma owned a microwave for years but only ever used it for one adorable purpose—heating water. Nothing else.
She also only sent one email her entire life. Her message to me?
“Your dad made me do this. I’ll never be the same again. Love, Grandma.”
It perfectly captured her charming resistance to technology… and why we loved her so much for it.
#10
My grandmother was born in 1888 and never learned how to drive. She came from a generation where cars were still a novelty, and that mindset stuck with her for life.
She always referred to my grandfather’s car as “the machine.“
It’s a small but charming reminder of just how far technology—and our relationship with it—has come over the decades.
#11
In my senior year of high school, we finally got computers. The administration scrambled to find a teacher with a free period to teach the computer class.
One of my favorite school memories is the football coach standing at the front of the room, offering extra credit to anyone who could figure out how to turn the computer on. “Whoever can figure out how to turn the computer on gets extra credit!”
It was a classic moment that shows just how far technology has come in schools—and how much we had to learn along the way.
Paganduck,Seattle Municipal Archives / flickr
#12
This story always brings a smile to my face—my grandma, who was in her nineties and had an email account, once believed that emails were “delivered” to her inbox by people.
“Well, they probably haven’t delivered it yet,” she’d say when my mom mentioned sending her something, most likely not realizing it had ended up in spam. It was such a sweet and innocent misconception—one of those moments I’ll always treasure.
My grandma also told me something that stuck with me forever. In her 80s, she said she still felt the same as she did when she was 18. Of course, she meant mentally, not physically. And you know what? She was absolutely right—you really do feel the same inside, no matter how much time passes.
#13
When my great-grandmother first had electricity installed in her home, she was given an electric clothes iron. After ironing, she would insist on leaving the iron plugged in and placed on a high shelf “so the leftover electricity would drain back out.“
It took quite some time to convince her that electricity doesn’t work like water—it doesn’t need to drain! It’s a funny and endearing example of how each generation adjusts to new technology in its own way.
#14
My mom, a passionate genealogist, was 50 when she got her first computer. From then on, I became her tech support for the next 32 years, most of it remotely. One of the most challenging tasks was trying to explain how to use email. “But who picks up all these messages and delivers them?” she would ask. It was pure t*e, but also a special bond.
When my brother bought her a cell phone, he didn’t bother to program it for her, so she mailed it to me to “fix it.” Eventually, I printed, laminated, and taped her password and all her phone numbers to the back of the phone. We mailed that phone back and forth for a month before she finally felt comfortable using it.
I miss her every day.
MaBonneVie,Getty Images / unsplash
#15
At 27, I’ve heard countless stories about technology from my mom, but one of her favorites involves her grandmother and the TV.
Her grandmother refused to buy a TV when they first came out, as she didn’t understand it, and it scared her. When she got too old to live on her own, she had to move in with my grandparents, mom, and aunt in the 1970s. Needless to say, their house had a TV.
My great-grandmother was nearly immobile and spent most of her day sitting in her favorite chair in a slip or nightgown. When the TV was on, they had to turn her chair around because she believed the people on TV could see her. She was 100% convinced that as they watched The Brady Bunch, those characters were doing the same thing—watching my family on TV!
Being an Irish Catholic, modesty was very important to her, so she would complain the entire time the TV was on about how inappropriate it was for the men and husbands on TV to watch women in bed clothes. The only way she’d agree to watch TV with everyone was if someone helped her get into a Sunday dress, did her hair, and applied her makeup. Then, she’d sit there poised in the chair like she was on a talk show, smiling and occasionally waving at the people on TV.
Edit for clarity: This story is about my great-grandmother, born in 1896, and took place in the 1970s when she was in her 80s. Please stop calling her “dumb” for not understanding how a TV works—she was from a different generation.
#16
I remember my grandparents’ record player, which had three speeds: 33 rpm for LPs, 45 rpm for singles, and 78 rpm for old-timey records.
One day, I was messing around with it and accidentally left it set to 45 rpm. My grandparents called my parents, ranting that I had broken the record player. I calmly explained how to fix it by adjusting the control, which was highly visible at the front.
The next time I visited, they accused me again of breaking it. I had to change the setting for them once more and was sternly told never to touch it again. The irony of the situation was completely lost on them!
whiznat,Anna Tolipova / freepik
#17
Convincing my grandfather that he wouldn’t be able to replace his manual shift car with a newer model featuring the shift lever on the steering column, like he was used to, was quite a challenge.
EDIT: Some commenters are confused, so let me clarify: I’m not referring to the AUTOMATIC transmission lever on the steering column. That feature existed because manual shifts were originally placed on the column before automatic transmissions became common. What I’m talking about is the standard H-pattern MANUAL stick shift, which was located on the steering column rather than the floor. You still needed to step on the CLUTCH with your left foot to shift gears. This system was known as “three on the tree.”
Still confused? Here’s a video showing a Column shift ’55 Ford.
#18
Taping a bit of cardboard over the remote so that only the power, channel, and volume buttons are showing was a clever trick to simplify things. It helped avoid accidental button presses and made using the remote much easier for those who weren’t tech-savvy.
#19
“God Damn Credit Cards…” My granddad, a brilliant man who served in the RAF during the war and flew in Lancasters, is a legend in my eyes. But when it came to understanding the concept of a credit card, he was completely lost. Despite his intelligence, he thought credit cards were “free money.” Over time, he accumulated tens of thousands of pounds in debt, believing that being “eligible” for credit meant receiving free cash.
I’ll never forget the helpless look on my dad’s face when he realized what had happened. Even after trying to explain how credit cards worked, my granddad couldn’t grasp it. This all took place in the ’90s.
I feel guilty for accepting the £5 notes he gave me for sweets, but I’m also frustrated with my parents, aunties, and uncles for not realizing sooner. It was a tough, bitter lesson that shaped how I view money and family responsibility.
Now, I make sure to keep an eye on my family and friends to ensure they’re living within their means, as I wouldn’t want anyone close to me to go through that experience.
#20
First born American here.” I had to teach my mother English while I was learning it myself in elementary school. Unfortunately, she didn’t keep her end of the bargain and never taught me Spanish.
#21
Here’s a really old one… My dad, who would be 102 if he were still alive, grew up on a farm. When his dad got their first tractor, he couldn’t figure out the manual shifter, so he would make my dad sit on his knee and shift gears for him while he drove.
trgreg,Andrei Armiagov / freepik
#22
Just using a regular computer before the internet existed…
“Okay, dad, to get into the part where you use your mouse, you type ‘win’ from this DOS prompt.”
“THAT’S TOO HARD!“
So, I put “win” in the autoexec.bat file. I was also 9 years old.
Poor guy, still to this day, I had to rename his Chrome icon to “USE THIS FOR INTERNET“.
fc3sbob,anita_bonita7 / freepik
#23
I saved up and bought my parents the very first Sharp Carousel Microwave oven.
It sat untouched on the kitchen counter for months. My mom was terrified of it—she threw a full-on tantrum, refused to walk in front of it (even when it was off), and always kept it unplugged.
She only changed her mind after gossiping to her friends that “my son got us this dreadful appliance.” That’s when they convinced her it was perfectly safe and absolutely amazing for reheating food. Several of them praised the Sharp model as the safest microwave you could buy!
Of course, she wouldn’t listen to her own family—but the ladies at the hair salon? No hesitation.
After that, leftovers and microwave meals became the norm.
RIP Mom. You couldn’t cook to save your life, but you sure mastered the microwave.
#24
When I was about 12, my parents gifted my grandparents a cassette player. Although cassette players weren’t new at the time, they were brand new to my Nana and Grandad, who had only ever used radios and record players.
We even gave them some tapes to enjoy—I’m pretty sure I made them a mix tape of their favorite old songs. But when they first plugged in the player, they didn’t quite get how it worked. They simply turned it on, pressed ‘play’ without inserting a tape, and watched the little wheels spin.
It was pure magic to them. They were so delighted—completely fascinated by the mechanics of it all.
mirinaesb,Mike Flamenco / freepik
#25
According to my Nan, one of the funniest family stories was teaching my great-great-grandmother how to use a toaster. She couldn’t believe you didn’t have to flip the bread!
The concept of toasting both sides at once felt like magic to her—and it took some convincing that she didn’t need to turn the bread halfway through. Just pop it in and wait. Simpler times, simpler joys.
Aun_El_Zen,Monika Grabkowska / freepik
#26
My father (born in 1922) once told me that his grandfather completely refused to believe in radios. He was convinced someone was pulling his leg and that voices couldn’t possibly come out of a little box with no one inside.
It’s wild to think how each generation views new technology—with wonder, confusion, or total disbelief.
#27
Microwaves and Grandparents: A Short Saga
My dad bought my grandparents a microwave.
Day 1: Grandpa puts a metal pot covered with tin foil inside—fried it instantly.
Day 2: Grandma tries warming up her socks—burns them to a crisp after setting it for 10 minutes.
Day 3: After a serious how-to lecture, Grandma puts a sealed Tupperware in—it melts and explodes, coating the inside in plastic and food. Total loss.
Day 4: We bring over microwave #3—they politely say, “Thank you, but this is too complicated for us.”
So we took the microwave back and got them a new TV instead.
They still got up to change the channel. The remote was too complicated too.
snootybooper,user22460925 / freepik
#28
When My Dad Tried to Flip a CD Like a Record
In the early ’90s, my dad tried to turn my CDs over like records.
He grew up with vinyl, so it made perfect sense to him at the time.
I still remember the puzzled look on his face when nothing happened.
It was a funny reminder of how fast technology changes—and how slowly we adapt sometimes.
miss_butterbean,Curated Lifestyle / unsplash
#29
Teaching My Parents to Hook Up the Atari—Because I Could Fit Behind the TV
Back in the day, teaching my parents how to connect the Atari to the TV was a mission.
My dad could handle a VCR just fine, my mom—not so much.
But when it came to the Atari, neither of them could figure it out.
Thankfully, I was small enough to crawl behind the TV and plug everything in without needing to move a thing.
Wait a minute… was that the real reason I was the tech expert?
anon,Matthew Paul Argall / flickr
#30
My grandparents received a Nigerian prince email scam. Although aware of such scams, they panicked, calling me terrified they’d been “hacked” and that the sender had “stolen their money.”
After confirming they hadn’t clicked, replied, or sent anything, I assured them they were safe and to delete the email. Still anxious, they printed it and visited all their banks, asking staff: “Mr banker, I want to make sure prince wazu has not taken any money from my account!” It’s a stark reminder of how worrying these email scams can feel.
Technology has come a long way, and so have the stories of how our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents tried to keep up with it. From microwaves and credit cards to Atari consoles and toasters, these moments remind us that every generation faces its own learning curve. While we may laugh now, these stories are full of love, patience, and the timeless challenge of adapting to change—one button, switch, or setting at a time.