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This week's Write Space by Jan Goldie.

I recently found out about the death of my 93-year-old grandfather – on Facebook.

His passing wasn't totally unexpected, but the Facebook status update did throw me a bit.

I wondered if others had been surprised by personal and potentially quite private news through social media.

After asking a few friends and doing a quick Google search, it seems I'm not alone.

And while I was lucky to have this news followed up by the phone call of a concerned family member minutes later, some have not been so fortunate.

Recently a mother heard about the violent death of her son when one of his mates posted it on Facebook. The police had not yet been in contact with next of kin.

A family learned of their son's death on Facebook and ended up having to contact the police themselves: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10449545-71.html

Facebook updates can also be embarrassing or reveal personal information not ready for the public sphere; finding out someone else got that job you applied for, before the company has had a chance to inform you, or seeing photos of your ‘end of night runny mascara face' posted before you're able to present your official and gorgeous wedding day/school ball/21^st birthday photos.

On the other hand, intensely personal Facebook updates can provide solace for many people.

Posting the death of a friend or family member can invite special responses and for many, the tributes and anecdotes in celebration of the person's life are a way of dealing with the loss and commemorating them.

In one case, a Facebook status led to saving a child's life – a small boy's rare illness was quickly diagnosed after a friend recognised the symptoms from her own son's illness: http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-diagnosis-saves-boys-life-2011-07

Whatever the pitfalls and benefits of Facebook, next time you're about to post sensitive information about another person, it might pay to observe digital decorum and think twice before you hit enter.