Grief, phones and social media

In one survey after a teen car crash, most young people had heard within an hour, mostly through social media and texts.

Online memorial pages and messages to the person who died can be a real comfort and a healthy way to stay connected.

There are risks too: rumours, upsetting images, cruel comments and trolls. Many teens in the same survey had a bad experience online.

Ask your teen what they've seen. Talk about privacy settings, blocking, and coming to you if anything upsets them. Learn how the platforms memorialise accounts.