Mom Sends 'Dad Passed Away' To Family Group Chat, Sparks Mass Panic

Breaking bad news is never easy, and there isn't a perfect way to do so, but it's safe to say, making a shocking revelation in a family group chat isn't the way to go.

In a video posted on TikTok (@thataudball2), Audrey Hanson shared a screen shot of the unfortunate way she learned that her grandad had sadly died in the family group chat. Her mom posted a message in the chat stating that "Dad passed away this afternoon," and that she'd share more information later, leaving Hanson with numerous unanswered questions.

Hanson, 32, told Newsweek that the unclear message gave her "a small heart attack" because she didn't know if it referred to her elderly grandad, or possibly her own father, since her mom referred to both as "Dad."

She figured it must have been her grandad, whose health had been declining for some time, but it certainly wasn't the way she imagined the news would come.

"After the initial shock of trying to figure out if it was my dad or grandpa who passed, it made more sense that it was my grandfather, who was declining in his older years. We had been expecting his passing given his health issues," Hanson, from Los Angeles said.

It's certainly a modern way to break bad news, as Hanson joked that it was probably "the most efficient way" to tell everyone at once, and thankfully she can see the humor in the unexpected situation.

However, she acknowledges that the way we receive bad news can leave "a lasting impression," so it's better to handle situations like this delicately rather than make the grief even worse.

Hanson still hasn't spoken to her mom about the way she chose to divulge such personal news in the group chat. While her communication technique could do with some improvement, Hanson jokes that she can "give her a pass" considering she'd just lost her dad and wasn't in a good headspace.

How Did Social Media Respond?

After posting about the experience on TikTok, Hanson's video has gained over 6 million views and more than 681,300 likes in a matter of weeks. Evidently, many people could relate, and it's opened Hanson's eyes to just how much we need to work on our communication at such a difficult time, whether it's tragedies or breakups.

Hanson continued: "The social media response has been overwhelming, and everyone seems to have a story about how they were informed of a loved one's passing in a traumatic way. We know it's traumatizing and memorable to learn of a loved one's passing, but it's becoming evident that not everyone knows how to break bad news in a compassionate and empathetic way.

"I had assumed there was a common understanding of how to approach communication when someone passes, but the comment section revealed that's not the case. Understandably when someone dies, there are a lot of moving parts so one might not put the most thought into the communication, but clearly it leaves a lasting impression."

Since going viral, the TikTok post has amassed over 2,300 comments already, as many social media users were quick to share their similar experiences. One comment reads: "My mom told me my grandpa died over Snapchat text."

Another person wrote: "We had to set a rule in my family that you can't break the news of deaths in the family over text for a similar reason."

While another TikTok user commented: "Found out my dad had a minor heart attack and was taken to the hospital from my mom's Facebook status update."

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