Angry parents urge Google to change answer to question: ‘Is Santa real?’ (2024)
It’s hard to keep up the worldwide fib in the age of the World Wide Web.
Parents with young children have always tried to preserve the myth and magical aura of Santa Claus for their kids, but that’s becoming harder as the internet becomes more ubiquitous.
Searching “Is Santa real?” on Google, for example, yields a response from the online chocolate shop Hotel Chocolat that reads: “Whilst there is no man in the sky riding a sleigh pulled by reindeers, Santa Claus isn’t a completely made-up person…”
And the first question after that, in the “People also ask” section, is: “Is Santa real or is it your parents?” The top response comes from the motherhood website Her View From Home.
“The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa. We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree — just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them and you will do for your kids someday,” the excerpt reads.
So parents are turning to — where else — the internet, specifically social media, to air their frustrations about Google’s Scroogey spoilers.
Jake Moore, a UK-based global cybersecurity adviser, took issue with the Hotel Chocolat answer, writing on X last week that his 11-year-old daughter googled “Is father christmas real?”
“Can we please ask @Google to take down this Rich Snippet!” Moore asked.
The Post has reached out to Google reps for comment.
A Google search Monday of the question “Is father Christmas real?” actually first highlights an excerpt from Parade that reads: “According to historical records, Santa is real. Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century.”
Nevertheless, Google still tops the naughty list for some parents.
“Jersey Shore” star Jenni “JWoww” Farley — who has a 9-year-old daughter, Meilani, and a 7-year-old son, Greyson — tweeted last week, “Hey @google just a thought … how about if someone googles ‘Is Santa real?’ the top choices say he is during the holidays. Just a thought for all the kiddos on their iPads being curious.”
Someone responded to the TV personality’s post, arguing that “at stores, Elf on a Shelf shouldn’t be out on display. Parents should have to ask for it.”
A controversial product, the elf is moved about by parents while children sleep to encourage good behavior.
Hey @google just a thought… how about if someone googles “is Santa real?” the top choices say he is during the holidays 🤷🏻♀️ just a thought for all the kiddos on their iPads being curious
And the first question after that, in the “People also ask” section, is: “Is Santa real or is it your parents?” The top response comes from the motherhood website Her View From Home. “The answer is no.We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa.
Instead, give kids context about why you told them this story about Santa. “Say, 'This is a story that parents tell their kids,'” she says. You can talk about the magic of Santa in your own childhood or the fun the story offered for your family.
Some tweens hold onto their childhood beliefs for as long as they possibly can. The truth is that if your children are asking questions like "Is Santa real?", they probably already know the truth or have an idea about the reality of the tradition. They may just be looking for validation from you.
If your child is much older, like 10 or 11, they probably already know by this point that Santa isn't real. But if you're not sure and you want to open up a discussion with them, you can ask by leading with an open-ended question.
Preschoolers likely believe that Santa has a special mind, that he may know some things that most other adults don't know but not everything. So, young children typically believe that Santa exists, but in a more mundane form than adults let on.
You see, kids are too young to understand the truth Santa Claus until they are as old as you are. The truth is that Santa Claus isn't a person, it is an idea. Think of all of the presents Santa gave you over the years.
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
When do children stop believing in Santa Claus? According to a survey done by BetCarolina.com, 48% of children stop believing in Santa Claus between the ages of 7 and 10 years old.
Whilst there is no man in the sky riding a sleigh pulled by reindeers, Santa Claus isn't a completely made-up person – the inspiration behind this festive fellow stemmed from a monk, named Saint Nick, who was revered for his untold generosity and selflessness.
Be there for them as they process this information, and be open to answering any questions they may have. reassure them that even though Santa isn't real, Christmas is still a special time of year. And most importantly, remind them that you love them no matter what!Happy Holidays!
Allowing your child to believe, even though they eventually will find out the truth, will not be traumatizing or harmful to their development. While they may have an emotional reaction at first, this is generally short lived.
Say something like this, “The Santa that you see in books, movies, and in stores is a person in a costume. People dress up in Santa costumes to remind us… …of someone who lived a long, long time ago called St. Nicholas who secretly gave money to people who needed it.”
After all, you don't want to broach the topic prematurely and lose their Christmas magic. You also don't want to withhold information if they're seeking the truth. It's really up to your discretion. “It's typical for most children to start questioning if Santa is real between the ages of 7 and 10,” says Ray W.
Amy Morin is a therapist whose clients ofter ask when to tell their kids the truth about Santa. Morin said there's no magic age or single right way for when parents need to reveal the truth. She said the truth should depend on the parent's values and what they want their child to learn.
Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century. He was a monk who was born in 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey.
When do children stop believing in Santa Claus? According to a survey done by BetCarolina.com, 48% of children stop believing in Santa Claus between the ages of 7 and 10 years old.
He is a blend of Odin, Nicholas of Myrna and Father Christmas. So his parents would be Borr and Bestla (from Odin) and from Nicholas they may have been called Epiphanius and Johanna or (by other accounts) Theophanes and Nonna. They were wealthy Greek Christians.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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