CORAL 65

5. GIVE RESPECT & CONSIDERATION FOR PRIVACY & DIGNITY As more and more of us share more and more information on social media, the concept of TMI (Too Much Information), oversharing, and privacy are disappearing. In any case, inform close family members/friends by the most personal method available (whether that be in person or over the phone) and receive permission prior to posting the news to social media. The death announcement is not the time to seek attention and adulat...ion for yourself. There is no good reason for letting people find out while browsing the internet that their best friend, grandmother, son, or significant other has passed away. No one should post anything until you’ve had a chance to notify close friends and family offline first. While anyone affected by loss can feel a strong impulse to share the news on social media, such announcements should be left to the immediate family or closest loved ones. If you hear about a death, it’s up to you to keep that information private unless given the permission to share with others. Remember the implications of a single social media post, and how quickly news can spread. Further, consider the mixed content and current political climate. Some experts recommend that death notices not be posted because they end up coexisting with jokes, memes, and political rants. Finally, there are still people out there - such as the grieving Mother - who don’t follow social media. If Facebook, for example, becomes the sole means of death and condolence notification, these individuals are left out of the Facebook loop. See more

4. CONSIDER YOUR FAMILY/FRIEND STATUS Seriously consider if you are a trusted and true family member/friend. For example, if you are a step-Mother (in association only) and did not have a loving or close relationship with your husband's child(ren), allow the loving Mother to announce the passing of her child at the time and method of her choosing (if not otherwise stipulated by the decedent). If family relations are previously or currently strained, posting without permissi...on can add unnecessary stress and friction to already gut-wrenching and heart-breaking circumstances. Show consideration and respect for other members of the family first. In addition to giving other family member's consideration, consider the deceased person's relationship with you. Again, if you were merely a Facebook family/friend member and had little to no other interaction, or ties to the deceased merely through friend connections/association, consider if you would have been the person they would trust and allow to post sensitive information. If in doubt, leave it out. See more

3. ALLOW TIME There is a time and a place. Let Time Pass Before Posting to Social Media. Nothing can be as disheartening as having to find out about the passing of a loved one through social media. The first 24 hours following a death are a period of shock for most people, whether the loss was expected or unexpected. If you choose to announce a death on social media, wait at least a day or two first (and after receiving permission from the closest family member). Posting t...oo fast risks close loved ones finding out online, and can lead to confusion or panic for loved ones trying to organize funeral arrangements. Before you rush to post the sad news of a death on Facebook, think about how others might receive the message. Nobody appreciates learning about the loss of a loved one from a stranger online, so proceed with caution and wait to see how the family communicates the news before sharing your comments. It will likely take some time before all the members of the deceased’s inner circle are notified, so be patient and considerate during this difficult time. See more

2. TALK TO THE FAMILY The loss of a loved one is a traumatic event, and while it might seem prudent to quickly share the news of a death on Facebook with family and close friends, make sure that you consult with the deceased’s closest and beloved family/friends first - before posting anything.

1. THINK FIRST People are quick to turn to social media to talk about death, but few rarely think about the aftermath of their actions. What seems like a sympathetic post can turn into a devastating reality for the deceased’s family members and friends if they aren’t notified beforehand. What’s more, social media can prolong the grieving process if followers continuously tag or share information about the death online. We’ve seen individuals call a trusted source immediately after finding out the news in pure shock. Before they can even tell immediate family members, that trusted source has already logged onto Facebook or texted others sharing unconfirmed details or spreading the word in mere minutes.