Digital mourning: The transformative role of photography in contemporary grief practices.

Abstract

This study explores how digital photography, particularly in social media contexts, transforms contemporary mourning practices. Using phenomenological and existential frameworks, it examines the shift from analog to digital formats and its impact on the emotional, sensory, and philosophical dimensions of engaging with death imagery. The research employs semi-structured interviews and social media content analysis, offering a multi-faceted exploration of how digital platforms mediate grief. The combination of participant narratives and phenomenological analysis reveals a nuanced understanding of these transformations. Participants' reflections reveal a dual dynamic: digital platforms enable innovative memorialization and sustained connections with the deceased, yet often diminish the authenticity and depth of mourning through transient and performative imagery. Drawing on Heidegger's and Sartre's theories, the research highlights how rapid digital consumption can disrupt reflective mourning processes, distancing users from an authentic confrontation with mortality. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the existential challenges posed by performativity on social media, examining how societal expectations shape expressions of grief and engagement with death imagery. Nonetheless, the study identifies the potential of technologies like virtual memorials and augmented reality to foster meaningful mourning experiences. The findings suggest a need for deeper cultural and ethical awareness to navigate the commodification of grief and support authentic engagement with loss. The findings call for ethical guidelines, media literacy, and intentional platform design to preserve the sacredness of mourning and deepen the understanding of loss in the digital age.