It’s 2022 And People Announce Deaths on Social Media. Get Over It.

Photo by dole777 on Unsplash

I remember the first time I saw a person “run to social media” to say that someone they cared about had died.

I cannot lie.

I was appalled.

I’m not talking about a general death announcement either. A general death announcement is posted hours, maybe a day or two, after someone dies.

It’s from the family and it lets people know that someone they might have cared about too has passed away. It gives details about the “arrangements” — letting people know when the funeral will be and where to send flowers.

“Running to social media” when someone dies, for lack of a better term, is when a person posts on social media right after someone dies.

It is not uncommon to scroll through social media and read

My beloved [mother, father, son, daughter, husband, wife] just died and I am devastated. I’m in shock.

Sometimes there will be a message to the reader

Hold your loved ones close

I used to cringe so hard when I read these posts. I would ask why are you on your phone, why are you on social media, why aren’t you with your family, or is nothing sacred anymore???