Social media has taken over the world. People were once fairly private with more serious matters, only talking about them in person with close family or friends. Nowadays, social media has become a very popular form of communication, since the people you’re close to aren’t always close physically. It has become a quick and easy way to update everyone you know.
It also causes more serious matters to be seen as not-so-private. The new normal is to post about losing someone, and it offers a whole new wave of support.
Social media has given people a chance to reach outside of that close family and friend group and gain support from others in their life.
There is an underlying stigma when it comes to this topic though — people sometimes judge others for social media grieving. Some people see it as solely seeking attention, and not a way for the individual to reach out for support.
Many are lucky enough to have a solid support system close by, but some others don’t have that kind of help present. People don’t often see how social media can be used as a resource for those who need to find a support system. This is something that needs to be recognized. Social media isn’t just a way to get attention, it’s also a tool.
Kasey Haren | Argonaut
On another note, there’s also the fact that people don’t usually take down the profiles of people who have passed away.
A lot of us have a Facebook friend or two that passed away, but it’s still used as a way to remember them. Friends and family of that person will post on the anniversary of their death, their birthday or other major anniversaries.
But this also carries that same kind of stigma.
Are the people who post like that looking for attention?
The answer, for the most part, is no. Again, it’s not a matter of seeking attention, it’s a matter of seeking support.
People naturally worry about what other people think of them. So instead of making people feel like they shouldn’t post on social media during the grieving process, we need to make people realize it should be accepted.
It’s time to realize the good that can come from using social media. Although some bad things can come from social media, reaching out during tough times shouldn’t be seen like that. Social media has given our generations a chance to be more connected than ever, and we shouldn’t shame or judge people for using it to do exactly that.
Kasey Haren can be reached at [email protected] or on twitter @harenkasey