MAINTAINING A

RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE DECEASED
THROUGH FACEBOOK
How Millennials Are Using
Facebook to Cope with Death
By: Kelsey Chipman

Objective
To find how millennials are using Facebook as a
way to maintain relationships with their deceased
friends

Descriptive Method
To describe how millennials are using Facebook to
maintain relationships and keep in contact with their
deceased friends
Case Study
Observation
Interviews

Case Study
Chose 3 millennials informal memorialized Facebook
pages
Alex Piller 1993-2013
Patricia Morris 1992-2014
Robert Smith 1993-2014

Observation
Observe the informal memorialized pages of those three
individuals all aged 18-21 years old when they passed
away
Observe the posts, pictures and comments on each
deceased persons Facebook wall from the time they
passed away to the present
Only posts, pictures and comments from millennial aged
individuals
Observe the content of the posts: pictures, comments,
memories, thoughts, birthdays, holidays & more

Interviews
Interview three people who frequently post on their deceased
friends Facebook wall
Written Questions:
How do you useFacebook as a formattomaintain a
relationship with blank?
Have your posts changed in the time since he or she has
passed away, how or why?
Do you feel using Facebook as a way to maintain this
relationship has helped you overcome/cope withsome of the
struggles of losing
a friend?
Alex-Leah
PatriciaSabrina
RobertJustin

Ethical Issues
Death is a very personal and intimate topic
Using real people for Case Studies & Interviews
Anonymized the data did not use the real names or
photos of deceased
Reassured the interviewees that the questions were
completely confidential
Did not use real names of the people I interviewed

Case Study 1: Alex

1993- 2013
Age 20

Month 1: Disbelief
Felt like I had to say it one more time. I love you, I cant
believe youre gone. I'll be sure to order some wings for
ya next time we go to Buffalo Brothers.
I'm still trying to take this all in. It's going to be so hard
without you around Alex. Missing you more than ever
and I can't wait to see you again.

Month 2: Reminiscing
Drove through Arlington the other day. Immediately had
a flash back of all of us headed out to the Ranger game.
Wish you could be by my side at the upcoming games
but I know you will be there in spirit. Love you so much.
Stairway to heaven is on... Makes me miss you every
time.

Present: Thoughts
A lot of things have changed since you died but nothing could
change how much we miss you. You could never know the full
extent of how you influenced all of our lives and how thankful
we are to have had the opportunity to know you and call you
our friend. You were a brother to us and it was a great trip that
ended way too soon. Miss you man.

Interview with Leah (Alexs Friend)

I first used Facebook as a way to express my loss and
feelings for Alex
After a few months I started posting on Alexs wall when
I did something that reminded me of him such as
visiting his grave or hearing songs we used to listen to
together
Now, over a year later looking back Facebook was a way
in which I coped with the immediate shock of the loss.
Now it helps me stay close with Alex. Nothing will ever
lessen the loss, but Facebook helps to reaffirm his spot
in my life

Results
From Case Studies, Observation & Interviews I found
millennials are using Facebook to maintain a relationship
with their deceased friend to:
EXPRESS LOSS & SHOCK
REMINISCE ON MEMORIES
RETAIN PART OF THE PERSON WHO DIED
In the end, I found this pattern follows the stages of
healthy grieving:
Disbelief
Reminiscing
Acceptance: finding a way to retain part of the person
who died

Sources
https://www.facebook.com/JayStavis?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/peyton.morris.739?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.pillow.35?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1428983341&f
ref=
ts
Trestrail, J. (2001, Jul 08). Dealing with bereavement
helping teenagers find a way out of their grief. Chicago
Tribune Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/419396525?account
id=
14214