The summoned memory of the COVID-19 pandemic: dying in a world interconnected by networks

José R. Abreu; Richard Cesín; Luis R. Muñoz

doi:10.5281/zenodo.14629914

Authors

José R. Abreu Universidad Politécnica Territorial del Oeste de Sucre “Clodosbaldo Russián”, Cumaná, Estado Sucre, República Bolivariana de Venezuela Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0495-2805
Richard Cesín U.E. Anexa Pedro Arnal, Cumaná, Estado Sucre, República Bolivariana de Venezuela Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7044-377X
Luis R. Muñoz U.E. Anexa Pedro Arnal, Cumaná, Estado Sucre, República Bolivariana de Venezuela Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5348-1657

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14629914

Keywords:

pandemic, COVID-19, social networks, death, bioethics, solitude, dignity

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly transformed the perception of death, a topic previously confined to private spheres but now widely discussed on social media. This article reflects on the pandemic's impact on the concept of mortality, particularly in societies characterized by hedonism and death denial. It examines how digital technologies enabled new forms of mourning, often marked by isolation and virtuality, and explores the ethical and social implications of dying alone. Finally, it highlights the importance of human presence as an essential component of dignity in the final moments.

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