Nollywood actress Toyin Alausa has condemned the increasing practice of posting images and videos of deceased individuals online, describing the trend as unsettling, disrespectful, and unnecessary.
Writing on her Instagram page on Monday, Alausa questioned why people feel compelled to publicly display the dead, warning that such actions rob individuals of dignity and intensify the grief of their loved ones.
She noted that the urge to share graphic content for online attention has become disturbingly widespread.
“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.
The actress advised social media users to show compassion by at least covering the faces of the deceased, especially in cases involving accidents or sudden deaths. She said this simple act reflects respect and helps protect the emotional well-being of families.
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“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.
Although she acknowledged that documentation may sometimes be necessary for verification or public interest, Alausa insisted that 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.
Alausa also cautioned that repeated exposure to images of the dead can be deeply traumatic, not only for families but for the public at large, urging people to exercise greater sensitivity online.
“Seeing a blank face devoid of life and emotions can be extremely traumatic. We can do better and be more empathic,” she said.
