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By Maria Morava
Relationships Reporter
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A woman online is teaching millions of people about the value of grandparents by setting an example with her relationship with her grandma.
Emma Grace Burke, 19, and her grandmother, Eve-Anne Wall, 83—who she calls Memama—began creating content on TikTok in 2022, after Wall's husband died. Since then, the duo has become a well-loved presence on the app, gaining 1.2 million viewers who devotedly like and share their content.
Burke spoke to Newsweek about her relationship with her grandmother, and what it means to her in this digital age.
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Burke told Newsweek that she has spent "practically every day" of her life with her grandmother. The very day she was born, her grandfather decided to retire and relocate to the town where Burke's family live in Florida—just a couple of blocks away.
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"My grandparents were very involved in just about every aspect of my life, attending every school program, talent show and dance recital," Burke said.
"As I grew into my teenage years, I stayed very close with my grandparents. Even though I spent more time with friends than hanging out with them, we still had our special time together and they never missed a school event or a home football game to watch me cheer."
Her grandparents were the constant of her life, until her grandfather, Wall's husband, passed away a couple of years ago. After 50 years of marriage, Wall was devastated. It was then that something began to shift in Burke and Wall's relationship.
"I was trying to think of things I could do to cheer her up and bring some laughter back into our lives, so I asked her to make a TikTok trying out some new Little Debbie ice cream flavors together," Burke said. "She didn't know what TikTok was, but she was happy to try some ice cream."
While her account had barely any followers, the Little Debbie ice cream did it: "That one TikTok ended up going viral with over 3.1 million views," Burke said. "Memama had so much fun on TikTok, we ended up doing more and more videos together. My TikTok page evolved and became all about my adventures with Memama."
People on Burke's TikTok videos are vocal in their love of her content: "You two are the cutest," one user wrote under a video of the two doing a TikTok dance. "Emma Grace, I promise you are the best thing that ever happened to your Memama!"
'Life is Ever-changing'
Since the beginning of their TikTok journey, Burke said her relationship with her grandmother has evolved into a true friendship. "She is one of my best friends," Burke said.
But intergenerational friendship has something different to offer than same-age relationships: wisdom. Wall, Burke said, has plenty of that.
"The lessons we can learn from past generations are priceless. Our grandparents have lived several generations, and the knowledge that they have to pass along is so important if we'll just take the time to listen and to learn from them," she said.
"I love listening to my grandmother tell stories about her life. She has taught me that life is ever-changing, and that you have to learn to adapt and be resilient to change.
"I have seen her do that in her own life, and now look, she is a TikTok star at the age of 83!"
Burke urged other people her age to reach out and spend time with their grandparents, even if they don't have plans for internet stardom.
"If they don't live nearby, then call them," she said. "Make the most of the time they do get to see them. Plan a trip together and travel with them. Find what they have in common and embrace their relationships with their grandparents."
As for her own relationship with her grandmother, Burke said she is constantly aware of how special this moment in her life is.
"We are getting to experience things together that we never dreamed of, and because we are documenting so many of our adventures through TikTok, I will have these videos to treasure forever," she said. "I know my grandfather is looking down and laughing right along with us."
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