29/08/2026
I have taken note of the recent caution regarding mortuary content on social media, and I respect the role of our professional bodies in safeguarding the dignity of the deceased, protecting grieving families, and maintaining professional standards.
However, I believe this conversation deserves context, balance and meaningful engagement with the practitioners who have been using these platforms to educate the public.
I began sharing content about mortuary science on TikTok in 2019, at a time when the profession was largely misunderstood, stigmatized and often reduced to jokes and ridicule. Being one of the first morticians to openly take the profession to that platform came with its share of ridicule, criticism and misconceptions.
I chose not to hide from that ridicule.
Instead, I used it as an opportunity to educate.
Over time, the ridicule turned into curiosity, the curiosity turned into understanding, and the understanding eventually turned into respect for the profession.
What started as one mortician speaking openly about her career created a space where people could finally see that mortuary science is not something to be ashamed of. It is a profession built around science, compassion, dignity and service to families at one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
More importantly, the visibility of mortuary professionals on social media has encouraged hundreds of people to consider mortuary science as a legitimate career. It has also opened the door for other morticians to join these platforms without feeling that they have to hide their profession or be embarrassed about what they do.
That, to me, is an important achievement.
I have never believed that everything that happens inside a mortuary belongs on social media. It does not.
The deceased deserve dignity. Families deserve privacy. Confidential information must remain confidential. Consent, institutional policies and professional boundaries must be respected.
But I also believe there is an important distinction between content that exploits the deceased and content that educates the public about death and mortuary practice.
We should be careful not to place responsible education, professional advocacy and sensationalism in the same category.
If there are concerns about the type of content being shared, then I believe the solution should be to establish clear, practical and enforceable guidelines that help practitioners understand exactly what is acceptable and what is not.
We should be asking:
How can we protect the dignity of the deceased while educating the public?
How can we protect families while reducing the stigma surrounding death and mortuary work?
How can we encourage professionalism online rather than simply discouraging professionals from speaking?
And how can we ensure that the standards we create reflect the realities of modern communication and public education?
I welcome regulation. I welcome accountability. I welcome constructive criticism.
But I also ask that we recognize the positive transformation that responsible mortuary content has created.
In 2019, I was willing to stand in a space where very few people wanted to be seen.
I took the ridicule that came with openly identifying as a mortician and turned that visibility into an opportunity to educate. Today, other morticians can stand on the same platforms with greater confidence, and young people can look at mortuary science and see a career rather than a taboo.
That progress should not be lost. It should be guided.
We can uphold professional ethics without silencing education.
We can protect the dignity of the deceased while giving the living knowledge.
We can regulate the profession without making professionals afraid to speak about it.
The dead deserve dignity.
The living deserve knowledge.
And mortuary professionals deserve a clear framework within which they can provide both.
Ann Mwangangi Official
