In today’s world, social media is the main method of staying in contact with friends and family. When you lose a loved one, it’s now a natural response to turn to social media to express your grief, notify friends and family, or even search for a compassionate funeral home. Learn more about some of the expected etiquette of posting about funeral and burial services on social media by reading below.

FAQ About Funerals & Social Media

When is it appropriate to post about it?

Only post your condolences and a sendoff post after their immediate family has posted about it, and when you know family and friends have been notified. Don’t use social media when you’re actually at the funeral home during services, as this is insensitive and disrespectful to the deceased and their family. 

What can I say about it online?

You can post memories, old photos of your loved one, messages of grief, and expressions of love online, both to your page and theirs. Don’t flood their page with numerous posts, emotional rants, or details about their life that others might not appreciate you sharing. You can post their obituary and about how beautiful or poignant the funeral home services were afterward as a final sendoff but try to avoid clichés.

Can I share photos or videos of the service on social media? 

Unless you are an immediate family member and sharing them so family who couldn’t make it can see, you should not. If you’ve been explicitly asked to record the funeral for absent family members or as a memorial, then you should only share that video with people in your family, unless otherwise stated.

Ask the funeral directors if they have a camera and tripod you can set up discreetly at the back of the room, so you aren’t on your phone. Don’t take photos during the funeral or burial services.

Should I interact directly with the family on social media?

This depends on the situation and your closeness with them. Sending them a private message to extend your condolences may be acceptable if you are close with them, particularly if you can’t attend funeral or burial services, but don’t be long-winded or disheartened if they do not reply.

If you are not close to the family or if they haven’t posted about it, then you should not reach out to them regarding it. No matter the situation, you should avoid posting public statements on their pages unless you’re responding to a post they made.

Your loved one deserves a funeral home that will respect etiquette and strive to make the service poignant and compassionate. At Meyer & Geiser Funeral Home in Cincinnati, you’ll receive dedicated, personalized services for your loved one. Their funeral directors are warm, polite, and have over 70 years’ combined experience creating unique and beautiful sendoffs for families in the area, with flexible financing and competitive packages available. View some of their support resources online, and call (513) 921-4144 to begin making arrangements today.