Nollywood actress Toyin Alausa has criticized the growing habit of posting photos and videos of deceased people online, calling the trend disturbing, disrespectful, and unnecessary.
In a message shared on her Instagram page on Monday, she questioned why people feel the need to publicly display the bodies of the dead. She said the practice removes the dignity of those who have passed and increases the emotional pain of grieving families.
Reacting to how quickly such images are shared, she wrote, “The way people just expose the dead on social media these days is so annoying and mind-boggling. What’s the point, actually?”
Alausa advised that once it is confirmed that a person has died, the respectful thing to do is to cover the body, especially the face. According to her, this simple action shows dignity and care, while also protecting the emotional wellbeing of the person’s loved ones.
She explained, “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.”
The actress acknowledged that there may be situations where recording a scene is necessary for clarification or when close relatives are not present. However, she stressed that such material should not be turned into viral social media content.
In her words, “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 also warned about the psychological impact of repeatedly seeing images of lifeless bodies online. According to her, such exposure can be traumatic not only for families but also for the general public.
Alausa added, “Seeing a blank face devoid of life and emotions can be extremely traumatic. We can do better and be more empathic.”
She ended by urging social media users to be more compassionate and sensitive, reminding them that every person deserves dignity even in death.
