IT’S DISRESPECTFUL – TOYIN ALAUSA CRITICIZES POSTING PHOTOS OF THE DECEASED ONLINE

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By: Muftau Fatimo

Nollywood actress Toyin Alausa has condemned the rising trend of sharing photos and videos of deceased individuals on social media, calling it disturbing, disrespectful, and unnecessary.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Alausa questioned the purpose of publicly exposing the dead, cautioning that such acts strip individuals of dignity and intensify the grief of their families.

She highlighted the alarming frequency with which graphic content is posted online simply for engagement.

“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.

Alausa urged social media users to show compassion by at least covering the faces of deceased persons, especially in cases of accidents or sudden deaths, stressing that it is a basic sign of respect and helps safeguard the emotional wellbeing of relatives.

“Once someone’s passing is confirmed, the right thing to do is to cover them, at least the face. It’s about showing respect, preserving dignity, and providing emotional closure for their loved ones,” she said.

While noting that documentation may sometimes be necessary for clarity or public interest, Alausa insisted that such content should never be made viral.

“This inhumane behaviour has unfortunately become commonplace. While capturing footage may be necessary for clarification or when immediate relatives are not present, it should never be shared widely on social media. It’s profoundly disrespectful,” she added.

Alausa also cautioned that repeated exposure to images of the deceased can be traumatic not only for families but for the general public, urging greater sensitivity and restraint online.

“Viewing a lifeless face stripped of emotion can be deeply disturbing. We need to do better and show more empathy,” she said.