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

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

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

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

5. 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
person’s 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

6. Interviews
• Interview three people who frequently post on their deceased
friend’s Facebook wall
• Written Questions:
• How do you use Facebook as a format to maintain 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 with some of the struggles of losing
• a friend?
• Alex-Leah
• Patricia—Sabrina
• Robert—Justin

7. 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

8. Case Study 1: Alex
1993- 2013
Age 20

9. Month 1: Disbelief
• “Felt like I had to say it one more time. I love you, I can’t believe
you’re 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.”

10. 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.”

11. 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.”

12. Interview with Leah (Alex’s Friend)
• I first used Facebook as a way to express my loss and feelings for
Alex
• After a few months I started posting on Alex’s 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

13. 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

14. 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&fref=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?accountid=14214