For Crying Out Loud

When you use social media, what do you look for? Happiness, relatability, or something else?

In the midst of her dad's illness and becoming a young caretaker, Lea Zikmund began looking to social media to find community. In the process, she began to notice a dynamic in our culture that tends to criticize those who share publicly about moments of grief, loss and hardship. She also noticed there are still many people who want to use social media as a space to connect on these exact topics.

This book takes a close look at the intersection of grief, loss, and the everyday Americans' social media use. Through interviews with friends and acquaintances, Lea attempts to understand how their moments of sharing helped them, if at all. Are there aspects of social media that can be more helpful to us in difficult moments than what we experience in person together?

For Crying Out Loud: Connecting through Grief and Loss in a Digital Era by Lea Zikmund, is an invitation to consider the benefits of social connection that can happen on social media.