Today-May 30
After she gave birth to a baby girl last year, funeral director Ang Jolie Mei, 40, uploaded a digital message to be sent to her daughter after Ms Ang is dead. The “emotional will”, as she called it, has been saved in a portal and is slated to be released on the date of her daughter’s 21st birthday. “Being so close to death constantly reminds me that I can die anytime. When that happens, I want to be prepared,” said Ms Ang. She is among over 10,000 users of NextLifeBook, a digital platform that allows people to upload video, audio, photo or text messages and pick out gifts that will be sent to a nominee at the date or event of their choosing.
Such services have gained traction here in the last one-and-a-half years, reflecting the growing desire of some people to continue communicating or surprising their loved ones after death. NextLifeBook, which was launched in April 2020, saw 70 per cent of its total sign-ups at the peak of the pandemic last year.
