Online social media has changed the way society grieves death. After the passing of musician David Bowie there were many tributes and outpourings of love and support on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Public digital expressions of grief have become an important part of the healing process in modern society. People’s online memory is becoming a more important aspect of their lives. Facebook has recognized these changing trends and is allowing users to designate a person to be a “legacy contact” who would have limited control over their account when they pass away. This will permit people to memorialize their Facebook profiles for loved ones. The rising importance of social media in everyday life is changing the ritual of mourning death.
See Michael Reilly, The Internet Has Changed How We Deal With Death, MIT Technology Review, January 21, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
