Social Media and death announcements
By Ruth Pearson
@Gwensmom (504)
United States
August 29, 2015 11:08pm CST
My uncle died today.
He had metastasized lung cancer and developed pneumonia.
He didn't want a feeding tube so he was sent home with hospice care.
I knew that.
I checked my facebook account this evening and right off the bat, I got an unwelcome notice.
He just died.
A status just saying that he died.
No phone call. My parents didn't know yet cause they had just left his house when it happened.
I guess I am just old school. I still believe in letting people know things like that in person or by phone.
So, that really, really bugged me.
Maybe I am just not really cut out for social media.
Does it bother you to find out stuff like that on Facebook?
I guess this is the way the world is. But, I don't have to like it.
7 people like this
4 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
30 Aug 15
There are a lot of things I don't like about social media. I have yet to come across something like this though, really important news that I should have heard face to face or on the phone instead of through social media. Then again, I don't have much family aside from my husband and kids.
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
30 Aug 15
@Gwensmom No for sure! Those who never got into Facebook are far better off than those of us who did.
2 people like this
@Gwensmom (504)
• United States
30 Aug 15
I was talking to my sister about this yesterday. She is not on Facebook. She mentioned that her son-in-law just gained a nephew and his name was announced on Facebook before the grandmother knew.
I hope his daughter stays away from Facebook for a while. I don't think she needs to see a bunch of posts about her father dying.
1 person likes this
@Gwensmom (504)
• United States
30 Aug 15
@katsmeow1213 It is nice to stay in touch with people, but there are better ways.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55604)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Aug 15
Sorry to hear about your uncle. My cousin's husband passed away suddenly last year - and she made an announcement on FB too. I think some people let her know they weren't happy about finding out that way - in a couple days she posted an apology for all who felt it was inappropriate, but she said posting on FB was the most convenient and fastest way to let everyone know. Her husband was VERY popular in the community and beyond - it would have been quite a task to send out personal messages. In that sense, I understood. But still, I think a personal message is most appropriate - especially for family.
2 people like this
