The Internet Search for Santa - could we find him?

This might be difficult for us so called adults to understand, but today’s children have always been in a world where the Internet has existed. When I was seven or eight years old the closest thing I had to the Internet was my old transistor radio tuned in to the local police and taxi firms. I used to keep it in between my stamp collection and Whizzer & Chips comics. Anyway, it’s amazing how quickly things change, and the traditional idea of writing an old fashioned letter to Santa Claus has changed to today’s children preferring to text him, email him or contact him through his website.

The tricky thing is do we know his real email address, his mobile number, can we find the real Santa’s website? Does he have one?

Santa's rankings

We all know there are many Santa impersonators out there, some good, some not so good and some who should be sent to prison. But does the real Santa’s website appear at number one in the Google or Yahoo! rankings, or has he got some work to do in order to achieve this? We decided to take a look.

Google

Number 1 on the front page of Google is northpole.com. An interesting website for children, parents and even teachers! It has a disco dancing Santa and you can read stories, download recipes and even play games. The most interesting thing is the “Track Santa” widget, which I have downloaded to my iGoogle. Apparently he is currently in Cape Canaveral, Florida! Shouldn’t he be in the North Pole right now though? I’m looking forward to midnight on Christmas Eve to find out how he actually gets to visit everyone in a short space of time. I’m imagining I’ll have to refresh my browser fairly often to keep up with him.

Further down the Google rankings are emailsanta.com, where you can buy an autographed photo of Santa. Sounds dodgy to me. Claus.com asks you to click on the Elf and he takes you to Santa’s Village, but unfortunately it doesn’t support Safari…so I’m afraid I didn’t get there. Finally, the other most relevant site on the front page of Google is santa.co.uk, where you can receive a text, an email or even a letter from Santa. Bingo! However, you are expected to pay for it, so I’m not entirely convinced it is the real Santa’s website. He wouldn’t want us to pay for them now would he?

Yahoo!

Yahoo! displayed some Wikipedia entries, some clipart sites, but most interestingly santaclauslive.com, where you can view the inside and outside of Santa’s grotto via webcam and see what is happening right now. Personally, I’m a little sceptical…it looks a little bit like a tourism site.

Would the real father Christmas please step forward..

Our Verdict: It would appear it is as difficult today, to find the real Santa Claus as it was before the days of the Internet. The search engines are providing us with many sites claiming to be directly associated to Santa, but we’re not so sure.

So Santa, if you’re out there and you happen to read our newsletter drop us an email (we won't pay for it though) and we will do our best to help you become visible through Internet search.

In fact, on second thoughts, don’t…..it’s probably best that you remain as illusive as you ever have, you don't really need a website.