Digital death notices in 2025 are transforming the way people in the UK grieve. With online memorial platforms like Ownstory, families can share instant announcements,  obituaries and funeral plan and details to the families and friends Not just that personalised tributes, and long-lasting memorial pages that connect communities globally can also be posted these days through digital death notices. In 2025 families and friends dont need to wait and go through vendors and complex process for putting up death notices and obituaries and like every other field this also has been digitalised. 

 The rise of digital death notices has introduced both meaningful opportunities and new challenges for the families friends and the wider communities. 

Recent Research & Insights (2024 – 2025)

Online Bereavement Support (UK & Global)

A rapid review of 35 studies (2010-2024) shows that online memorials, grief forums, and tribute sites are effective in reducing grief intensity, depression, and stress, making digital spaces valuable for emotional healing and support. 

Funeral Planning & Digital Use 

• 97% of UK crematoria now provide live-streaming technology which families can attend from anywhere in the world. 

• 28% of people use social media to announce funerals for better reach as calling and inviting each person was really a hassle.
  Digital tools are now central to modern funeral communication. 

Online Bereavement Support   (UK & Global)	A rapid review of 35 studies (2010–2024) found that online interventions like (memorial sites, forums) are feasible, acceptable, and effective in reducing grief intensity, depression, and stress.
Funeral Planning & Digital Use	According to research, 97% of UK crematoria now have live-streaming tech installed. Also, 28% of people say they use social media to announce funerals.
Platform Usage & Charitable Giving	On Funeral-Notices.co.uk in 2023: 13.7 million unique users, 263 million pageviews, >150,000 tributes, and £1.5 million+ raised via donations. In 2024, the donations rose to £1.8 million, raising the platform’s total in-memory giving to £7.3 million.

Understanding Digital Death Notices in the UK 

From Newspaper Columns to Online Memorial Spaces 

 Historically, UK death notices appeared in newspaper obituaries or on public notice boards mainly but these short messages included basic information about the deceased, funeral arrangements, and donation options and thats all nothing much about the person. 

 Today, digital platforms are the primary way people search for death notices. Websites such as: 

• OwnStory.com (digital memorial platform) 
• Funeral Notices UK 
• Obituary UK 

Local funeral home websites and more these sites allow families to share announcements instantly and offer richer, more personalised tributes. 

The New Age Death Notice Format :  

Modern digital death notices often include: 

• Photos and slideshows along with their loved ones. 

• Video tributes from their families and friends 

• Personal stories 

• Condolence messages 

• Virtual candles 

• Online donation links 

This shift has changed how communities experience grief, offering a more interactive, lasting, and accessible way to honour loved ones 

The Rise of Digital Platforms for Death Notices in 2025 

Why are Digital Death Notices Growing Rapidly

Platforms like Ownstory, Funeral Notices UK, and Obituary UK allow families to create online memorials with just a few clicks. These sites offer features such as tribute walls, digital guestbooks, fundraising pages, and shareable links. 

 

Benefits of Digital Death Notices  

• Accessibility for posting death notices immediately  

Digital death notices can be accessed by anyone, anywhere ideal for families with relatives abroad or across the country. 

• Immediate Availability 

Notices can be posted and shared within minutes, enabling timely communication during difficult moments. 

•  Extended Reach 

Social media sharing allows UK death notices to reach a much wider audience than traditional print ever could. 

•  Enhanced Memorialization 

Online memorial pages offer space for: 

1. Photos 
2. Life stories 
3. Condolences 
4. Annual remembrance updates 

Platforms like Ownstory allow families to preserve memories indefinitely and one of the trusted ones worldwide.

• Cost-Effective 

Posting digital death notices is mostly free or significantly cheaper than generic newspaper obituaries, making remembrance more accessible for everyone 

Challenges of Digital Death Notices 

• Lack of Privacy 

Some families may feel uneasy sharing personal information publicly online and there are some unsafe sites too which might leak data. 

• Increased Complexity 

Digital obituary editors offer many customisation options, which can overwhelm grieving families at the moment as it is sometimes a complex emotional time to do anything like this. 

• Emotional Overload 

Seeing numerous death announcements online can cause emotional fatigue for those already grief-stricken and thus mostly should be used with a trigger warning and with utmost sensibility . 

• The Digital Divide 

Older adults or people with limited internet access may feel excluded from online memorial spaces even though now in 2025 almost 68.9% of the population is online and all these services even encourage people to start using internet more often. 

The Role of Digital Death Notices in Modern Grief 

Digital death notices are transforming how people are experiencing grief and how communities support each other. As more UK families turn to online platforms, the grieving process has become increasingly accessible, personalised, and community driven. 

How Digital Death Notices Are Reshaping Grief in the UK 

The shift toward online death announcements has made it easier for families to notify loved ones quickly, regardless of location as nowadays most families have their members living overseas as well . 

Instant Communication and Wider Reach 

Online death notices allow families to share updates immediately, and effectively helping friends and extended relatives stay informed even when they are far away as well . This immediacy encourages faster emotional support and helps reduce feelings of isolation during early grief. 

 

Digital Platforms as Emotional Support Spaces 

Virtual Togetherness for Grieving Communities 

One of the most powerful aspects of digital death notices is the sense of community they create. People can: 

• Share memories along with their loved ones 

• Post condolences from families and friends 

• Upload photos or videos 

• Express sympathy 

• Offer support in real-time 

This online interaction gives grieving families a safe, accessible space to receive emotional comfort, making the mourning process less isolating. 

Personalised Grieving Experiences 

Digital memorial pages allow individuals to engage with grief on their own terms. Whether reading messages privately or sharing stories publicly, mourners can choose how they participate, which helps shape a meaningful and personalised healing journey. 

 

Democratisation of Remembrance in the Digital Age 

Online Memorials as Evolving Tributes 

Unlike traditional death notices that appear once in print, online memorials can grow over time and stay forever anyone can go and even visit their memorial pages when they want to not just that people can add: 

• New tributes 

• Life stories 

• Anniversary messages 

• Photo albums 

• Milestone updates 

• Birthday and special day reminders 

 

Digital death notices have significantly transformed the landscape of grief and remembrance in the UK and worldwide . As families are moving toward online platforms for instant announcements, personalised tributes, and long-lasting memorials, digital remembrance becomes more meaningful, accessible, and supportive through different aspects of community building and support driven platforms. 

Despite challenges such as privacy concerns and digital disparity, online memorials continue to grow, ensuring loved ones are honoured with love, dignity, and community connection and remembrance. 

 

If you’re looking to create a beautiful, lasting, and secure online memorial, visit OwnStory.com. Share tributes, preserve memories forever, and bring loved ones together no matter where they are in the world. 

 

 

FAQs

 

1. What are digital death notices in the UK?

Digital death notices are basically online announcements of a person’s passing, often including tributes, funeral details, images and memorial pages.

2. Are digital death notices replacing newspaper obituaries?

Yes, many families prefer online platforms because they offer faster posting, wider reach and accessibility it is preferred by many as an affordable option too in these recent years.

3. How do I find someone who has died in the UK?

Search online obituary sites, memorial platforms like OwnStory.com, or official GRO death records. 

4. How do you find a death notice in the UK? 

You can use funeral notice websites, newspaper obituary portals, or digital memorial sites such as OwnStory.com. Mostly these days people are using online posrtals for wider reach of audience as well . 

6. How do you find out if someone passed away if they didn’t have a funeral and no one put it in the obituary? 

Check GRO records or contact the local registry office as official deaths are always registered even without a public obituary.