Tragedy through Local and Social Media

This week I unfortunately had the opportunity to experience a developing front cover story in my city, including the stories development in social media and within the circle of those in the community affected.

My best friend's 17 year-old cousin died hiking on Friday afternoon and I found out before both her and her family. How? Facebook.

Although the police did not release information before 11 p.m., somehow the high school generation on facebook was able to communicate the death immediately; the news spread on facebook through comments, statuses, notes and pages created in my friend's cousin's honor.

After finding the link on facebook, I saw the story on my local newspaper's website that night, without the girl's name, and in the morning with her name. Over the few days following the story became more detailed and was finally released on Monday in its totality.

Facebook "coverage" of the tragedy developed also. A memorial was organized and advertised and bracelets to honor the girl were sold, all through facebook.

At the girl's funeral today, the way the story unfolded was criticized. It was hard for many to find out the death of a loved one through facebook instead of through a more personal venue. The newspaper also chose to focus on the girl's footwear, sandals, and that she was hiking because she was skipping school for senior skip day; interests beyond those of informing family, friends, and the community were served through the article.

Finding out a death on facebook, and the subsequent transition of the deceased's "page" into a memorial and virtual obituary, is incredibly unsettling. Under a month ago I similarly found out the death of a friend from school on facebook. Though I am of the generation who utilizes social media unendlessly, this was a shock. Are we developing into a society that communicates tragedy virtually before personally? I hope not.