July 8, 2023
How the Digital Age has Changed our Approach to Death
Shared experiences and keeping connected
Whether it’s updating loved ones far away with news of an illness or passing, or getting to say final goodbyes in time, video call technology like Zoom and FaceTime, and messaging services like WhatsApp and Messenger, help keep loved ones connected more than ever. For those unable to make it to the farewell in person, there are various companies offering live streaming and recording services. Find live streaming services near you.
Remembering
Share your life story and leave a digital keepsake for your loved ones to treasure. Video memoirs preserve not only the story but the voice, expressions and personality of the person telling the story – these are gifts that will be treasured in the months and years following a loss. New Zealand-based Moving Memories offers video memoir packages.
Imagine visiting the grave of a loved one and being able to watch their funeral, listen to their favourite songs, see photos of them, or even hear their voice. LifeStone and Digital Memorials are both Kiwi companies that produce codes that can be added to headstones and plaques that when scanned take you to an online collection of memories of your loved one. Creating a memorial website is another option if you are looking for an easily accessible place to keep mementoes that can be visited anywhere at any time. MyKeeper offers a free online memorial and tribute webpage service.
In the digital afterlife
With password managers, two-factor authentication, pin numbers, facial recognition and fingerprint access, technology can protect our data every day. When someone dies, it can be daunting to know where to start. It helps if the person who has died has left instructions on what they want to happen to their digital footprint, but this isn’t always considered in wills.
From backing up phone data so important documents and photos are kept, access to emails and messages, and memorialising social media accounts there is so much to consider now. For more thoughts on the digital afterlife check out this article from the Spinoff’s Death Week.
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Live funerals benefits
Getting the chance to participate, even remotely, in a loved one’s farewell service helps with the grieving process and arriving at a place of acceptance in the grief journey.