Santa goes Digital – I Don’t Approve

We geeks are all for technological progress, but not at the expense of the few magical things left in the world.  Santa, particularly, is an institution that should not be messed with.

It’s understandable that Santa’s elves have had to upgrade their workshops to cope with the tech savvy children of the naughties, who are no longer content with wooden rocking horses and spinning tops.  The kids of today expect new mobile phones and games consoles under their festive trees, so Father Christmas has had to get to grips with the world of consumer tech.

Still, I somehow never imagined that he would forsake the traditional “letter up the chimney” means of communication with his fans.

One of the largest mobile networks in the U.S., AT&T is offering the American boys and girls a new way of contacting St. Nick; the humble text message.  According to the press release that we received today, “Santa has decided to use the latest digital tools to spread holiday cheer through a holiday texting campaign and a special app”.

Children will be able to text “SANTA” to a dedicated number, after which they will receive a special text message from the big man himself, inviting them to reply with their Christmas wish-lists.  The service is free and includes a “Santa Tracking” service, so that kids will be able to follow Santa’s progress around the globe on Christmas Eve via a series of live reports.

“If you think Santa and the elves are fast at making toys, you should see them texting! It was clearly the season to go digital,” said Susan Bean, North Pole representative for Santa Claus.

Other extras include a countdown to Christmas Eve, a variety of ideas for Christmas games and biographies of each of Santa’s Reindeer.

This all makes me feel a little sad.  The writing of a Christmas list was a major event in our house, and we’d spend hours working on our letters, drawing annotated pictures of relevant toys where we felt that more detail might be required.

A simple text seems too bland and casual by comparison.  What’s next?  Santa swapping his Reindeer for a jet pack, or modernising his toy factory to the point that elves are no longer required?  Maybe this is the Luddite in me talking, but I want Santa to hold onto his traditions.