Texting condolences on WhatsApp as a mediatized mourning practice

Abstract

This paper investigates the practice of texting condolences on WhatsApp as a mediatized mourning practice in contemporary Indonesia. Data were obtained through participatory observation and two-stage interviews, which in the first stage involved 130 participants, while the second stage was conducted with 10 participants who were chosen purposively. The study shows that mourning practices on WhatsApp have shifted from mediation as a communication practice to mediatization as a cultural practice with several features. First, WhatsApp has enabled users to express condolences through the use of WhatsApp features. Second, although it is generally believed that WhatsApp could facilitate co-present interaction for mourning, some participants believe that attending the funeral in person is more meaningful. Third, the norms of traditional mourning practices remain relevant in the setting of virtualized mourning in WhatsApp which is shown by the use of WhatsApp features and the transformation of expressions, attitudes, or behaviors in an online context.