Death Immortalized: The Phenomenology of Social Media Mourning among
Filipino Millennials
Abstract
Death is a universal concept which influences all human beings. Through
generations, the process of grieving and mourning which accompany death,
has evolved from traditional to digital, aligned with the changes of
time. In varying age groups, this grieving process is expressed in
diverse ways, and existing literature shows a lack of this exploration,
especially in the Filipino context. This phenomenological research aims
to describe the participants’ digitalized mourning by utilizing social
media platforms to process their grief. The participants will be from
the Millennials or ages 24-42 years old, from Legazpi City, the capital
of Albay. Using an interview guide, this study seeks to answer:
“How do millennials give meaning to their social media
mourning?” The narratives will be analyzed through thematic analysis
via a repertory grid. This research hopes to contribute to the growing
Filipino research literature on death and dying, specific in age groups,
which is most beneficial in gerontological psychology, developmental
psychology, and clinical psychology. The study resulted in the
formulation of the H.E.R.O. model of social media mourning, representing
the following themes: Helping and Hurting, Enriching and
Encroaching, Relieving and Reliving, and Obtaining and
Obscuring; categorizing the various forms of mourning demonstrated by
Filipino millennials online. These findings have important implications
for individuals, families, and communities as they navigate the
challenges of grief and loss in the digital age. This study sheds light
on previously unexplored aspects of bereavement by examining the ways in
which Filipino millennials use social media to cope with loss.