Grieving father’s request inspires Facebook to change memorial policy

Inspired by one Missouri man’s request for Facebook to create a “Look Back” video for his late son, the social network is expanding that option to all loved ones of departed individuals.

Back on Feb. 5, John Berlin posted a request on YouTube for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to offer the highlight reel for his son Jesse, who died in 2012.

John’s appeal was quickly watched by more than 2 million people. Two days later, his wish was granted.

“From the bottom of my heart and everything that I am, I thank you, Facebook,” John posted.

At the time, Facebook reps said they wanted to do more to “celebrate and commemorate” the lives of deceased loved ones. Today the company elaborated on their plans…

“John Berlin reached out to ask if it was possible for Facebook to create a video for his son, Jesse, who passed away in 2012. We had not initially made the videos for memorialized accounts, but John’s request touched the hearts of everyone who heard it, including ours,” Facebook reps said in a blog post today. “Since then, many others have asked us to share the Look Back videos of their loved ones, too, and we’re now glad to be able to fulfill those requests.”

To make Look Back videos — which were recently created in honor of Facebook’s 10th anniversary — confirmed friends of memorialized Facebook users fill out a simple request form. Reps said this is part of a “larger, ongoing effort to help people when they face difficult challenges like bereavement.”