Virtual Mourning: How Filipinos Utilize Facebook to Express Grief and Seek Support – A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

Abstract

This study explores how grieving Filipinos use Facebook to cope with loss and seek support, integrating traditional mourning practices with digital expressions of grief. Despite the growing role of social media in bereavement, research on digital mourning in collectivist cultures remains limited. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten bereaved Filipinos to examine their online grieving experiences. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: the blending of traditional mourning rituals with Facebook for emotional support, the validation and relief provided by online interactions, and the role of digital mourning in fostering healing. Findings suggest that social media enhances Filipino bereavement practices by strengthening community connections and preserving cultural traditions. The study emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive digital spaces and grief support services that integrate both online and offline mourning. It calls for further research on the intersection of grief, culture, and social media in non-Western contexts.