What is the Proper Wait Period Before Posting a Death on Social Media
By Steve Helmer
@srhelmer (7029)
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
January 21, 2020 1:16pm CST
This happened recently with my wife's side of the family. There was a death and people were posting about it not a couple hours after it happened. She found out about it that way at work.
Maybe it's just because I'm older, but that just seems inappropriate. When my dad died last summer, for example, we didn't post anything about it until we knew family and close friends were already aware.
9 people like this
7 responses
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
21 Jan 20
I'm fine with something like that after a short wait, just because it's not always easy to reach or even know everyone that person may have known (my dad was a great example of this). But, I am simply uncomfortable with a close relative or friend finding out that way.
3 people like this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
21 Jan 20
Its only right to wait until the main family knows. But we can't decide what others do.
2 people like this
@much2say (53960)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jan 20
I have seen this too, and I cannot quite accept it yet. I believe close family and friends should be called or be told personally anyway before it hits social media. I remember finding out that my cousin's husband passed away . . . I found out everything including service details on Facebook . . . my uncle did call to tell my parents, but news had already spread on Facebook.
1 person likes this
@samysotelo18 (7744)
• Mexico
21 Jan 20
I don't know, I don't usually post stuff like that on social media
1 person likes this
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
21 Jan 20
With my dad, there was a need to do it because we figured it was the most efficient way to inform people we may not know about (he knew A LOT of people). But, at least as far as close family goes, I never liked that as a method of communicating bad news.
1 person likes this
