Nollywood actress Toyin Alausa has condemned the growing practice of posting photos and videos of deceased individuals on social media, calling the trend “disturbing, disrespectful and unnecessary.”
In an Instagram post on Monday, Alausa questioned the motives behind publicly exposing the dead and warned that such actions strip individuals of dignity while deepening the pain of grieving families.
“The way people just expose the dead on social media these days is so annoying and mind-boggling. What’s the point, actually?” she wrote.
A Call for Empathy and Respect
Alausa urged social media users to exercise empathy by at least covering the faces of deceased persons, especially in cases of accidents or sudden deaths.
“Immediately it’s confirmed that someone has passed, the right thing to do is to cover them, at least the face. It’s about showing respect, offering dignity, and, in a way, providing emotional closure for their relatives,” she said.
Viral Content at the Expense of Human Dignity
While acknowledging that documentation may sometimes be necessary for clarification or public interest, the actress insisted such material should not be turned into viral content.
“This inhumane attitude has sadly become the norm. It may be important to get footage for clarification or when immediate relatives aren’t nearby, but not to be splashed as content on social media. It’s so disrespectful,” she added.
The Psychological Impact of Graphic Posts
Alausa also warned that repeated exposure to images of the deceased can be traumatic, not only for grieving families but for the wider public.
“Seeing a blank face devoid of life and emotions can be extremely traumatic. We can do better and be more empathic,” she said.
Her message is a reminder of the need for greater sensitivity and restraint in the age of instant sharing, as social media continues to blur the line between documentation and exploitation.