There are tons of times that learning something via Facebook is OK. When a friend you've lost touch with has a baby, that's fine. The name of Jessica Simpson's baby girl? Fine too. But the death of your own daughter? Most definitely NOT.
Cheryl Jones, 49, had spoken to her daughter Karla about an hour before she came across a status on Facebook saying, "RIP Karla." Apparently, Karla collapsed and died less than a mile from her home at a friend's apartment. After seeing the status, Cheryl immediately tried to call her daughter, and instead, a police officer at the scene of her daughter's death answered.
WHY wasn't she notified by the police sooner?! She's the next of kin, for crying out loud. That kind of delay is unforgivable, and the whole thing sounds nothing less than an absolutely horrible nightmare.
Can you even imagine losing your daughter and finding out online?!
A lot of people grieve using social networks, which is understandable. Sometimes, though, I get this vibe that it's all about who can post what first. I understand posting your sentiments online about someone that was a critical person in your life. But using sites like Facebook and Twitter to "break" a death announcement, well, that's just cruel.
I'm not saying that's what happened in this case. There is no way whoever posted that "RIP" status could have known whether or not Karla's mother was notified. However, what happened to Cheryl is something I wish upon absolutely no one.
I suppose this is just another instance of how many of us get SO MUCH of our news from the popular website these days. With that, though, comes the reality that you don't know what to expect when you check your newsfeed. It could be something as trivial as breaking celebrity relationship news or, in this case, a horrible nightmare. Most importantly, though, when the bad news comes, it's critical to disconnect and take time to deal with it in the real world instead of staying in staring at a dimly lit screen.
Can you even imagine?
Image via Emily Abbate
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Comments 54
It sounds like in this case all the person WAS trying to do was be the first to post it. So disrespectful. If you aren't immediately family, just wait- it's not that big of a deal to wait. So sad.
If one can't break the news of a loved one's death in person, one should call someone who can do so. To find out online or by telephone is so inhuman somehow.
Had friend pass this is how her daughter told me was so stunned I could not speak people need tothink
I post RIPs for celebrity deaths. I would never post about family or friends unless the family gave me permission to.
My heart goes out to this mother. Why wouldn't one of her daughter's so-called friends call her after they notified police?