Speaking of Longing:

Death and Mourning Online in Times of COVID-19

Abstract

Death is a social phenomenon that has raised, over time and in different social groups, various explanations, representations and ritualistic practices aimed at denying it as the end of existence. Since the 20th century, transformations in Western society have made death a taboo, a topic to be avoided, confined to certain contexts. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reversed this scenario and put death at the center of events. This article focuses on the pandemic period in order to analyze the changes surrounding death, especially with regard to rituals and mourning, due to health restrictions. It is interested in understanding how virtual environments have become an alternative for expressing grief and accepting loss, as well as for preserving the memory of the dead. To this end, two virtual spaces were selected and observed: a mourning group on the social network Facebook and an online memorial dedicated to the victims of new coronavirus. The results indicate that these spaces were strengthened by the restrictions or absence of funeral rituals, acted as an important support network among the bereaved and enabled tributes and expressions of feelings of pain and grief.