Digital comfort: understanding the role of social media in pet loss grief using photo elicitation

Abstract

Despite research reporting that grief from pet loss can be as intense as grief from losing a human, grief from pet loss is usually disenfranchised with a lack of social support for bereaved pet owners. The emergence of social media in recent years allows connections to be forged beyond borders, bringing together people with shared experiences thus creating a sense of connectedness and affording social support. However, little is known about bereaved pet owners’ use of social media and its impact on their grief journey. This paper investigates the role of social media in facilitating pet loss grief through the application of the photo elicitation method to uncover insights into the experiences of bereaved pet owners. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 bereaved pet owners along with the participant-driven approach of the photo elicitation method. Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings underscore the therapeutic potential of social media in providing information, connection, and support for owners navigating pet loss grief. Finally, implications for future research and practice in leveraging social media for pet loss grief support are discussed.