When Digital Friends Disappear, The Grief is Real 💔

Why Losing an Online Friend Hurts More Than You Expect
We form real friendships in digital spaces—through games, social platforms, and virtual worlds. But when someone suddenly disappears, it leaves behind more than just silence. It leaves questions, memories, and grief that often go unacknowledged.
Whether you've lost a digital friend, are supporting someone who has, or just want to better understand this very real kind of grief, this space is for you.

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
02:30 - Are Online Friendships Real?
04:44 - How the Internet Connects People
10:33 - Freedom of Online Friendships
16:12 - Digital Spaces and Handling Loss
18:19 - Honoring Those We've Lost Online
19:39 - Dealing with Digital Grief
23:17 - Sharing Their Story

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This is Prisqua Newall from Second Life Spectrum. Don’t forget to share this video if you found it valuable and subscribe if you haven’t already. Until next time, keep adventuring and making waves in the virtual world! 🌍✨

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#SecondLife #Metaverse #VirtualWorld #grief #anxiety #mentalhealth

[nanacarol]

My SL guy died suddenly this past February. It broke my heart. Will grieve for a long time. We talked on SL, Discord, and phone calls almost daily for 19 months. Yes, the grief is real. And family and friends do not understand.

[SnackyMunchies]

I lost a friend and partner of seven years due to real life obligations, and the pain still lingers. She truly understood me and my disability, and our six and a half years together left memories that still bring tears. Friendships are precious, and losing one is especially hard when they’re so rare real or Secondlife.

[megabaustelleneu]

I have nothing to add. The best friends I had were online friends. I've experienced loss there, too. My family doesn't understand online friendships. They think I'm addicted to the internet and I should find "real" friends. Well, I feel very sorry for them that they haven't had my experience.

[otoa.kiyori]

This made me realize, the few friends I have online/Second Life, I should and want to appreciate how they decided to become my friends and gave me happiness

[tatjanayamdev]

To my lost SL friends:
R.I.P. Rock Dinosaur
R.I.P. Ramone Shalala 🖤
R.I.P. Gaston Nouvelle
Josie Zond and Linda Crossair: i miss you and i hope you are alive, healthy and happy 💜

[rockridgeconstantine]

Thanks for shining a light on this topic

[gcanaday]

I've lost two friends to RL passing inworld, one was more than a friend. I hope I don't lose more.

[dianemiller]

Thank you for your thoughtful message. The grief I experienced came about gradually over time as I saw my husband fall in love with an avatar he met in second life and eventually met and married in RL after we'd divorced.

[DEFENDER-lxhs]

Yes you brought back sad memory's for me with this one, Might explain why i dont get close to people on S.L anymore:(

[noowun]

Bravo, Prisqua. An insightful, comprehensive and sensitive exploration of grief and loss beyond the keyboard. I believe a majority of SL residents have experienced the sudden disappearance of a close friend or loved one with no resolution, and this video underlines the truth that we are not alone in this experience.

I've heard it called the curse of SL, but the 'curse' arises from the deep connections we develop and is ultimately not a curse but a natural part of living. Loss and grief is part of our journey through life. Uncertainty may make it feel worse but it remains a large part of what it is to human - whether in real life or in the digital universe.

Once again, Bravo on this much needed video.

[thegridgirls]

My best friend from SL became my best friend in RL. We even live an hour from each other. She lost her long term boyfriend several years ago, Tennent Hyx. He was an amazing man and friend.

[QuinnValentinaAravalli]

Thank you so much for this Pris! You've stimulated a wonderful conversation with my partner, and friends.

[endorkugo]

with sl, there's a layer to the connection people need to understand: some people can be honest, nice and make genuine connection, but who they are may not be their whole self. they may come to sl to experience parts of their persona that they may not experience in sl. sometimes when that need is fulfilled, they disappear. it still sucks as i have several sl friends who made it clear they wont communicate beyond sl platform as has been such good friends, but they no longer feel the need to go on sl anymore and there's no way to continue the friendship.

[dawndolinski]

i was with someone for 2 yrz then he left, i know hes still alive but he just left.... yes it hurt & still think of him every now & then... thx for this blog, the loss is real.. our hearts still mourn

[daveo]

Well said, the uncertainty is the worst. I had 2 second life friends, Jenny James and Larkyn Lane who just disappeared. Jenny was suffering from depression so I suspect she took her own life. Larkyn was very private about her physical life so I do not really know what happened.

[CarlosSilva-pgdx]

Im só proud did you have coragem do it this video amazing and só true

[passionflower]

I always wondered why SL never put aside land for our rememberances.

[stormalisticx]

I'm going thru a breakup rn. We were together for 4 years and Idk how to move forward..second life feels useless to me now.

[kayleewoz]

I think even the companies that run these platforms don't understand the depth of the connections made on their platforms.