Digitalizing mortality: How the pandemic shifted young adults’ perceptions of death through social media

Abstract

Social media have emerged as prominent spaces for young adults to openly express their thoughts and emotions about the concept of death. This study examined the impact of social media on perceptions of death among young adults from two Ibero-American countries whose cultural roots have been deeply entrenched in traditional festivities related to death. Employing a quantitative approach through a questionnaire, we evaluated 322 Spanish and 314 Mexican young adults, totaling 636 participants, assessing their exposure to content about death on social media platforms. The findings shed light on the role of this cyberspace as a catalyst for conversations about mortality that challenge conventional beliefs and emotions. The data underscore the dualistic nature of social media. While it has the propensity to exacerbate psychological issues such as depression and anxiety, it also presents a unique avenue for educational endeavors and awareness efforts aimed at demystifying death and mitigating the associated stigmas.