Abstract
The way we express grief has changed in the last decade. Many of us turn to Facebook to show our support, to offer condolences and grieve together. Facebook provides us with a platform where it is easy to show that we care. But has it become too easy? This master thesis aims to investigate how bereaved people experience Facebook after the death of a loved one. I have used a qualitative approach, and interviewed 10 people about their experience with Facebook after losing a close friend, or a family member. The interviewees had different experiences with Facebook; some found it helpful and supportive, whilst others found it complicated and painful. I present each interviewee and their personal experience, and then I present similarities between them. Findings include differences in user patterns between younger and older adults, the effect of writing in a grieving process, the importance of Facebook on anniversaries, how Facebook helps the bereaved to maintain a relationship with the deceased, and a discussion concerning how Facebook might replace the important face-to-face conversation. I also present some ethical concerns regarding the usage of Facebook for a place to grieve. The research field is relatively limited, at least here in Norway. I hope my research can provide a different understanding than previous researchers have presented, and thus give a new and wider insight to the phenomenon.