Cyberfunerals

The cyberfuneral, also known as funeralcasting or memorial webcasting, is the broadcasting via the [Page 250]World Wide Web of an event to commemorate one's life and death. A funeralcast can be viewed live or delayed (“on demand”) on single monitors or projected onto a screen for a large audience. Some providers attach the funeral webcast to personalized web pages that include photos, video clips, or a PowerPoint presentation. This entry discusses the availability of and requirements for cyberfunerals, notes the benefits and potential drawbacks, and identifies the emerging policy, ethical, and legal issues.

Availability of and Requirements for Cyberfunerals

Holding a cyberfuneral is dependent upon the availability of a webcast funeral service provider having access to a specialized computer server capable of distributing the webcast onto the Internet. More than 24 hours' notice is generally required to organize the funeralcast technology. Moreover, the number of computers used to simultaneously host the cyberfuneral depends on the capacity of the server, as the fees for the service are influenced by this quantity.

A computer with a high-speed Internet connection is needed to view a cyberfuneral. According to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board of Western Australia, most late-model personal computers have the equipment needed to view a webcast: a highspeed processor, a sound card, and a video program such as Windows Media Player or RealPlayer. Audience technical support may also be available to troubleshoot challenges that occur while viewing the cyberfuneral. A password is required and is obtained from the funeral service provider.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Cyberfunerals

It is generally important for an individual to observe a funeral ritual, but it is not necessary to be physically present at the service. For example, participation in funeral rituals may influence adjustment following a death; therefore, it is important to consider the effects of cyberfunerals. Barriers overcome by funeralcasting include time limitations created by geographic distance, work obligations, or the requirements of a religious or spiritual ritual such as burial within 24 hours (according to Jewish law), limitations relating to physical or health factors, travel costs, or the need to care for young children. Deployment overseas may prevent a member of the military from returning home for a loved one's funeral, and comrades of a fallen soldier may benefit from observing a cyberfuneral.

Other benefits include the ability to archive online a videotape of the ceremony, thereby making the funeral available for viewing after the actual service. Time differences, as well as the desire to watch the funeral more than one time, can be accommodated.

To some individuals, cyberfunerals may be considered too impersonal, as they are devoid of social interactions that define many traditional funeral rituals. The potential for a cyberfuneral to become an “isolation ritual” exists because of this lack of active participation. Webcasts preclude the provision of social support in-person. A potential disadvantage of cyberfunerals is that these events may decrease the amount of support available to the bereaved. Although the use of similar technology in a second site would allow for interaction, the addition of such technology could be considered by some as intrusive. The potential also exists for disruptive behavior or inappropriate comments that cannot be predicted or prevented.

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