Twitter to Announce Deaths, Send Sympathies and Condolences

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Twitter Allows Us to Share Our Grief, Sympathies and Condolences

In addition to being one of the hottest social media tools, Twitter is becoming a medium for announcing deaths and sending sympathies and condolences.

This lens started as a way to look at sending ones condolences and sympathies on Twitter. As I was writing the lens on June 25, 2009 and the events of the day unfolded, the lens also became a look at Twitter as a way to find out news, announce deaths and connect people in a time of loss.

In one day we have not only lost Farrah Fawcett, but also Michael Jackson. One is a more anticipated death, the other a sudden unexpected death. These two deaths follow Ed McMachon's slightly more anticipated death earlier in the week. A difficult week marking the passing of three icons of American pop culture.

This week illustrates how Twitter allows people in grief to connect immediately, to share the news, their hopes for a good outcome and then also to share the losses and the sorrow.

News of Michael Jackson's Death Overloaded Twitter 

Michael Jackson's Death Reported in Real Time Online and On Twitter 

News of the unexpected death of Michael Jackson put Twitter on overload as everyone scrambled to find out what had happened to the "King of Pop."

As noted by Dean Takahashi of the Ventura Beat "On Twitter's search function, Michael Jackson and "cardiac arrest" are among the top searches, as is Farrah Fawcett, who also died of cancer today. We're leaving in a real-time world. This is proof."

Within an hour of news of his death several key words for Michael Jackson topped TweetStats. Within four hours he was topping most of the TweetStats.

TweetStats on Michael Jackson 

TweetStats from the first few hours and four hours after news of his death.

Twitter Buzzing about Michael Jackson's Cardiac Arrest and Death 

The timeline of Michael Jackson's death, as reported in near real-time
Pop star Michael Jackson is dead. We know that because the media is reporting developments in the case by the minute.
Twitter abuzz with speculation after Michael Jackson rushed to hospital
Comments Blog from the Los Angeles Times reporting Twitter on Overload.
Michael Jackson Breaks Twitter
Social networking site Twitter has completely removed their "trending topics" and "search" functions on the site after news of the death of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, as well as Harrison Ford and Jeff Goldblum death hoaxes placed an unseen amount of strain on the social networking site.
Jackson's death melts servers, causes NitTwits hoax deaths
The death of pop superstar Michael Jackson has led to a complete meltdown of servers around the world. It's also led to a series of hoax Twitter posts claiming other stars, like actor Jeff Goldblum, have met their fate from LIVENEWS.com.au
Twitter: The Fastest Way to Get Informed. Or Misinformed
I spent this afternoon doing what a lot of people did: Watching TV reports about Michael Jackson while also gleaning information from the Web-especially Twitter.
Jackson sparks celeb death hoaxes - Digital Spy
The shock news of Michael Jackson's death has sparked online rumours of Jeff Goldblum and Harrison Ford's passings.

Twitter Breaks News of Farrah Fawcett's Death 

I was following Twitter the morning when it was announced that Farrah Fawcett had received her last rites. Over the course of a few hours the tweets went from people wishing her well, hoping she would have a chance to marry long-time companion Ryan O'Neal to news of her death.

I head the news first on Twitter, probably within 20 minutes of her passing. News was on Twitter before I saw it on Google News. It was an hour after her death before the news reached a top spot on Google News.

RIP Farrah Fawcett became one of the top trends on TweetStats within 4 hours of her death.

Tweeting RIP Notices on Twitter 

Image adapted from Twitter Bird.

In time of Loss Twitter becomes a Place for Sharing Grief and Condolences 

With the ability to post a tweet quickly, Twitter is proving to be a new way for people to connect during a time of loss.

Twitter allows people to:
  1. Share their grief, their losses and their condolences.
  2. Experience a common loss.
  3. Follow a breaking story about a death in real time.

Twitter Pics on Flickr 

My design for Twitter's "over capacity" screen by Mykl Roventine

Twitter by Dplanet::

Twitter by respres

Twittering TED by jurvetson

Jenny Holzer + twitter + text messaging by gcbb

Twittering... by zoovroo

curated content from Flickr

Share Your Thoughts on Using Twitter to Announce Deaths and Tweet Sympathies 

Sharing thoughts in this section remain only on this lens. If you want to tweet your thoughts, see the Twitter module.

Do you tweet condolences, sympathies or RIP messages on Twitter?

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It's an easy way to send a quick sympathy message.

GrowWear says:

We have no better way of connecting with the family and friends of well-known folks who have passed on.

24websurf says:

This very day you are talking about, yes, I did.

No Way!

 

Twitter Connects During Times of Grief 

Perhaps one of the most remarkable outcomes from the new social networking Web 2.0 tools is the ability to connect people instantaneously during times of grief. With applications like Twitter, people are able to send and receive messages almost as they were happening.

Twitter and other websites were broadcasting the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett within minutes of the news being reported.

People hear the news and can retweet the news to friends and send their condolences in the growing tweets of sympathy. As noted by Mimi (GrowWear) above, with Twitter "We have no better way of connecting with the family and friends of well-known folks who have passed on."

Twitter Connects People in One Thought 

This is one of those rare days that the we all become aware and one in thought.

So odd that three icons passed Michael, Farrah and Ed McMahon.

Marlee Matlin, Twitter

General Information on Sending Twitter Condolences 

While it shouldn't be used as the only way of sending condolences, Twitter is a quick and easy way to send a message to someone experiencing a loss that 'You are in my thoughts' in real time, or soon after hearing tragic news.

Twitter is also becoming a way for people to share in a common loss and in many cases share a common grief. Twitter allows the famous and the rest of us to share our thoughts, our shock and our grief following a loss.

A Featured Lens on Texting or Emailing Condolences 

Another lens looking at a related topic, texting or emailing condolences.

Articles on Using Twitter to Send Condolences or Sympathy 

Expressing Condolences, Fears on Twitter
As transportation officials investigate the cause of the plane crash near Buffalo, people in the area -- and around the world -- are using Twitter to express their condolences, fears and reassurances from the Ahead of the Curve Blog
Write Technology: Latest Tweets
Had a death in the family so will not be leading my Twitter session for the eLearning Guild tomorrow.
Cityfile: Katie Lee Joel Can Always Find Comfort on Twitter
Using Twitter to Tweet about breakups.
Twitter Condolences for Liam Neeson
Squidoo lensmaster Adrienne Jenkins encouraged people to send "Twitter Condolences for Liam Neeson and the Redgrave Family in Fond Memory of Natasha Richardson."
Twitter, Facebook and MySpace users show support for victims of the Victorian bushfires | News | News.com.au
AS the death toll climbs Twitter and Facebook have been abuzz with support for communities devastated by the Victorian fires.
Ed McMahon Reactions...In Today's Twitter-Wood
Blog post on MTV Movies Blog about tweets for Ed McMahon's death.
As millions get addicted to Twitter, we ask: Twit or Tweet? | The Sun |Features
The social networking phenomenon that is Twitter is reshaping the way we communicate.

The Twitter Book in the Amazon Spotlight 

The Twitter Book

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/07/2009)Buy Now

O'Reilly and Milstein have provided a user-friendly guide to using Twitter.

More Examples of Sending Condolences in Twitter 

Earlier in the week Ed McMahon died. His death continues to be tweeted about in light of these other deaths.

Twitter was all a buzz in the Spring following the unexpected death of Natasha Richardson as well. Twitter has also been used to report plane crashes, cover the events in Iran and other global events involving loss.

Tweeting Condolences for Ed McMahon 

Ashton Kutcher, Jon Favreau and plenty of others tweeted condolences to Johnny Carson's former "Tonight Show" announcer [Ed McMahon], who died Tuesday June 23, 2009 in Los Angeles.

Brian Warmoth, Movie Blogs

The Unexpected Death of Natasha Richardson 

According to the YouTube Video looking at how the "U.S. Responds to Actress Tragedy" TweetStats.com showed the actress story became the second topic users talked about the most on Twitter.

Following the initial reports Twitter messages ranged from updates on her conditions to condolences to the family.

Tweeting Condolences to Liam Neeson 

Demi Moore, Jane Fonda and US TV star Martha Stewart all posted messages of support for Natasha's family and sent condolences to her husband Liam Neeson.

Nick Francis, The Sun

U.S. Responds to Actress Tragedy 

A look at how the media followed the Natasha Richardson story as the news came in. It will be very interesting to see how the reporting of Michael Jackson's death is analyzed.
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Turning to Twitter Following the Death of Natasha Richardson 

Demi Moore, Jane Fonda And Martha Stewart Pay Tribute To Natasha Richardson - Celebrity Gossip, News & Photos, Movie Reviews, Competitions - Entertainmentwise
Demi Moore, Jane Fonda and Martha Stewart have all taken to the web to express condolences to the family of Natasha Richardson.
Stars 'Twitter' over Natasha Richardson's tragic death
Hollywood stars have publicly expressed their condolences to the family of Natasha Richardson on their 'Twitter' accounts. Demi Moore, Jane Fonda and Martha Stewart have all taken to the online micro-blog site posting sombre messages of support for Natasha's grieving family.
News - Lindsay Lohan, Meryl Streep Remember Natasha Richardson | Usmagazine.com
Following her tragic death Wednesday, Natasha Richardson's close friends and colleagues are reflecting on the powerful impact the talented actress had on Hollywood.

Featured Lenses on Natasha Richardson 

Supporting Each Other by Twittering Condolences 

Part of the appeal of Twitter is the ability to support each other by twittering. The Fail Whale image seemed to work well with one of my favorite grief quotes:

    We are each of us angels with only one wing,
    and we can only fly by embracing one another.

    Luciano de Crescenzo
Image adapted from Twitter Fail Whale.

Using Twitter to Send General Condolences and Sympathies First 

Sending condolence or sympathy messages is a good way for people to initially respond to news of a loss, much like sending an email message.

Etiquette still dictates sending a more formal letter of condolence or sympathy after sending the initial tweet, IM or email.

Books on Sending Instant Messages on Amazon 

135 Tips on Email and Instant Messages: Plus Blogs, Chatrooms, and Texting

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World

Amazon Price: $31.31 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

Sharing Twittears = Twitter Tears 

Image adapted from Twitter Logo.

Tweeting Sympathy and Condolences 

Image adapted from Twitter Birds.

Twitter Condolences in the News 

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More Twitter Pics on Flickr 

Tweet Tweet. by ianmunroe

Twitter. 08 July. by Gustav H

Context Sensitive Tip :) by psd

How I Tweet by Glenn Batuyong

Sean A-tweeting by topgold

Icons Displayed On The estrategy Twitter Account Friendslist Screenshot by e-strategyblog.com

curated content from Flickr

Twitter Sympathy in the News 

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The Twitter Book Kindle Edition in the Amazon Spotlight 

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Blog Posts about Twitter Condolences 

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Twitter Collectibles on eBay 

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eBay

More Twitter Books on Amazon 

Twitter Tips, Tricks, and Tweets

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

Twitter For Dummies

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

All a Twitter: A Personal and Professional Guide to Social Networking with Twitter

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

Try to Send a Follow Up Note or Card 

While sending a quick tweet with your condolences is a way to connect with family and friends at a time of loss, etiquette experts still recommend taking the time to send a sympathy card, note or a formal condolence letter.

Obviously in the case of a celebrity death, tweets may be the only way to be in touch and send your condolences.

Tweets are fleeting computer messages. Condolence cards and letters frequently become treasured memories for family members.

It will be interesting to see how our ability to Twitter condolences may ultimately impact or affect the formal etiquette traditions of the past.

More Lenses on Sending Condolences or Sympathies 

If your are interested in sending your condolences or sympathies in a more conventional method, visit these lenses for help in sending sympathy notes or condolence letters.

Books on Sending Condolences and Sympathies on Amazon 

The Art of Condolence: What to Write, What to Say, What to Do at a Time of Loss

Amazon Price: $12.59 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

A Book of Condolences and Comforting Words

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

The Nature of Sympathy (Library of Conservative Thought)

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

With Sympathy (Sparklies Gift Book)

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/07/2009) Buy Now

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Reader Feedback on Using Twitter to Send Sympathies or Condolences 

What do you think about using Twitter to Send Sympathies or Condolences?

24websurf wrote...

I think the use of Twitter to send out condolences is the human need to interact with people feeling the same pain you are. As many of us are finding our closest friends are now on the internet and not our neighbors, it gives us a chance to bang the words out on a keyboard to connect and share our grief with like-minded people. For others who didn't send direct replies to anyone, they may have been just sending prayers out into the Twitterverse hoping someone would say "It didn't really happen. It was a mistake. Someone lied or our sources were wrong." Unfortunately, that did not happen today and people are still reeling from the shock. Whether you liked the people or not, you feel for the families and loved ones. Sorry for such a long response. I guess I needed a place to unload my grief too. Lovely lens and 5*s

ReplyPosted June 26, 2009

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You can now make a micro loan to an entrepreneur in the United States.

by Comfortdoc

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor...

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