At 2204hrs on 22 August 2016, Channel News Asia broke the news of former President of Singapore, Mr SR Nathan’s passing. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) made a formal statement of the death moments later around 2240hrs.

I took to Twitter to observe how young people were responding to the death of Singapore’s sixth and longest-serving president (two terms, 1999-2011). Here are the first one hundred sentiments I curated from young people on Twitter – gauged by their use of internet vernacular, their adoption of parlance popular among young people, and my brief views of their profile pictures and biographical information – collected between 2240hrs and 2320hrs, back-scrolled to the earliest possible Tweets on #RIPSRNathan.

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Five categories of emotional reactions 

1) Shock and loss

this is so shocking wow #RIPSRNATHAN

Guys. I feel like a part of me is gone when I heard bout #RIPSRNATHAN 😭

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2) Gratitude and respect

#RIPSRNathan no one really said thank you for everything you’ve done for this country. Hope you rest in peace. Thank you, too.

#RIPSRNathan thank you for all that you have done for Singapore

thanks for what you have done for us Mr president #ripsrnathan..

#RIPSRNATHAN my mum told me about ur sacrifices for sg, thank u, take care💫

Remember the times SR Nathan lead his team to fight the hostages during laju ferry hijacking 👍🏻 #RIPSRNATHAN

S R Nathan is one whom i respected greatly. His passing is a loss 😢😢😢 #RIPSRNathan

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3) Remembrance and pride

fondly remembered, always respected. rest in peace, the people’s president. #RIPSRNathan

No other president can ever replace you. You will always be the president of Singapore in my heart #RIPSRNathan

ur commitment to serve and better SG will forever be remembered.. Thank you sir. Rest in peace. 😞 #rememberingsrnathan #RIPSRNathan

Proud to have called you my president, ya #RIPSRNathan

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4) Grief in internet & young people vernacular

NO SHIT I CANT TAKE THIS NO 😭😭😭 #RIPSRNathan

i’m sad now 😪😪😪 #RIPSrNathan

#RIPSRNathan :””'( I am so disheartened

heaven gained a wise angel tonight. #RIPSRNathan

My heart just broke… #RIPSRNathan

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5) Allusions to heaven and the afterlife

I think heaven waited way too long for this good man. he was pure at heart. safe travels on your way home. #RIPSRNathan

sad to see you leave, but you’re in a better place called heaven #RIPSRNATHAN #rememberingSRNathan

Thank You Mr Nathan, for everything. Now sleep well. #RIPSrNathan

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Eight descriptors of the late former President

1) “Cutest” president

#RIPSRNathan you’re the cutest president I’ve ever seen idk why :’)

The cutest President ;(( thanks for everything you did; charity work, minority representation- a true ambassador. #RIPSRNathan

cutest president ever #ripsrnathan

He’s like the cutest president tbh #RIPSRNATHAN

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2) “Favourite” president

Thank you for all your contributions to Singapore. You will always be missed by Singaporeans. RIP my favourite president 😢😢  #RIPSRNathan

He was my favourite and is still my favourite #RIPsrnathan

my favourite president of all time 😢 #RIPSrNathan

omg he’s my fav tbh I’m so sad #RIPSRNATHAN

Thank you for everything you have done for S’pore 😔 We will always remember you as our fav president. #RIPSRNathan

honestly my favourite president. RIP #RIPSRNATHAN

Salutes to mr SR nathan “kawalann kehormatan hormat president senjaaataa!” #RIPSRNATHAN 😞⚓️ my most favourable president and thank you sir.

#RIPSRNATHAN aw he’s my favourite president :-(

was watching suria then saw the headline 😭 eh my fav siahh haiss 😔 #RIPSRNATHAN

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3) “Best” president

Rest in peace SR Nathan 😔 you are the best president 👍🏻 #RIPSrNathan

Rest in peace to our ex president aka the best president #RIPSRNathan

Hope u rest in peace. best president. :( #RIPSRNATHAN

#RIPSRNATHAN the “best president” to our generation, thank you.

hands down SR Nathan is one of the best and the president that i look up to when i was in pri sch #RIPSRNATHAN

The best president i know soo far u will be missed 😔❤️ #RIPSRNATHAN

probably the best president in my generation 😢😢😢 #RIPSRNathan

Wah the best president I could ever ask for :'( #RIPSRNATHAN #rememberingsrnathan

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4) “Great” president

A great & well respected man. You’ll be fondly remembered. Rest In Peace, Sir. #ripsrnathan

We have a lost a great leader. #RIPSRNathan

#RIPSrNathan youve been a great former president to all of us singaporean :(

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5) “Good” and “Kind” president

He was a kind leader, always taking his time to shake every single hand stretched out to him. Thank you for your service ❤️ #RIPSRNATHAN

dearest sir, you’re a good leader & a really good man. we’ll miss you 😭 thank you for everything :’) #RIPSRNATHAN

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6) “Humble” president and “common man” interactions

The reason why people love SR Nathan so much, was he started out as a common man and stayed humble throughout. #ripsrnathan

Felt like he was the most humbled and down to earth president we ever had! #RIPSRNATHAN

Rmbered reading paper wen he mentioned all he wants to do after step down he wanna get half boiled eggs at kopitiam!So humble! #RIPSRNATHAN

Will always be one of the Presidents that smile and acknowledge the nsf for our duty during ndp – #RIPSRNATHAN

I still remember getting a huge teddy bear from you when i was 4 years old#ripsrnathan

Had the honour to be able to meet and perform for him twice during the time he was President. Such a nice and humble person. #RIPSRNATHAN

It was an honour to have performed for and met you, Sir. May you rest in peace. #RIPSRNathan #SRNathan. 🇸🇬

Remember the times we ran into him jogging along ECP while we did our 2.4km runs /: #RIPSRNATHAN

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7) “(Grand)Fatherly” and “Role model” president

he was so down to earth and warm and grandfatherly i’m so 😭😭😭 #RIPSRNathan

RIP to the only president I’ll love )-: you always reminded me of my dad now you’re both gone hais ☹️😔💕 #RIPSRNATHAN

#RIPSRNATHAN U will always be my role model no matter what.

You were such a grandfatherly figure 😢 thank you for everything, we will miss you #RIPSRNATHAN

#ripSRNathan . You were my role model when I was young. From watching you to NDP and everything.Thank you for what you’ve done for Singapore

the only person in the govt body i have ever looked up to even when i was a kid 😭 #RIPSRNATHAN 😭

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8) “Longest serving” president

#ripsrnathan longest-serving minority president. may u rest well up there 🙏🏽

He served 2 terms as our president, biggest part of my childhood defo 🙁 #RIPSRNathan

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Three constructs of young social memories

1) “Only memory” or “First memory” of a President

#RIPSRNathan You were the president I have the most impression of. :(

RT @mw04_ ‘#ripsrnathan gosh the only president we have recollections of. @CalLoveYou’

Rest In Peace to the first president I know.. #RIPSRNATHAN

You’re in a better place now. First president I knew cause when I was young. #RIPSRNATHAN

#RIPSRNATHAN he was my first memory of singapore leadership in my childhood. this is really heartbreaking news :-( RIP

sometimes i still think he’s still the president, rest in peace. 💐 #RIPSRNATHAN

#RIPSRNATHAN my first president :( you’ve contributed so much to our country and your legacy will live on even after SG100.

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2) “Growing up” or “childhoods” with Mr SR Nathan

omg, i grew up with you, i love you, may you rest in peace, s r nathan. ☹️❤️ #ripsrnathan

#RIPSRNATHAN YOU WERE THE BEST PRESIDENT EVER DURING OUR CHILDHOOD 😭😭😭

The president I remember the most while growing up. Honoured to have been under your leadership. Rest in peace sir #RIPSRNathan

Sigh he was the only president I knew growing up. #RIPSRNathan

How I miss seeing him during NDP every year when i was young…. You’ll be missed President Nathan :,( #RIPSRNathan

Sr Nathan was the only president I know of during my childhood😥😥😥😥😭😭😭😭😭 #RIPSRNATHAN

Grew up with him as my President 😢😢#RIPSRNATHAN

Having to grow up seeing the nation under your care till your last breathe, you will always be in our hearts. Thank you😢 #RIPSRNATHAN

#RIPSRNATHAN A great President in my childhood days…

grew up with SR Nathan as our President ever since I was young 😢😢😢 #RIPSRNATHAN

Rest In Peace Mr Nathan :( thank you for being a part of my childhood #RIPSRNathan

nobody can ever replace Mr S R Nathan. thank you for everything, my childhood is the best thanks to you. #ripsrnathan

the best one. the one i grew up knowing. #RIPSRNATHAN

for some reason it feels like I’ve lost a huge part of my childhood. #RIPSRNathan

He was the only president i knew growing up😭😭😭 you will be missed #RIPSRNATHAN

remember him being president during my childhood & he seemed like a really kind man to me, rest in peace 🙏 #RIPSRNATHAN

thank you for all you’ve done for us . you’re literally the best man during my childhood ✨ #RIPSRNATHAN

I remember screaming at the top of my voice as a kid when former President S R Nathan makes his way in for National Day Parade #RIPsrnathan

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3) Public portraits and experiences in school

I’ve seen Mr. SR Nathan’s picture in the hall for my whole pri and sec sch everyday 😢 Thank you for everything. RIP, sir. #RIPSRNATHAN

It a bless to have SR Nathan as president during my years of studying 😔 #RIPSRNATHAN

More than just a familiar face hanging on the wall since young #RIPSRNATHAN

SR Nathan is whom we grew up seeing in our schools,offices and everywhere else…A huge legend gone….😔#RIPSRNATHAN

From the day I start studying, I had been looking at his photo in school hall with his wife.😔😔😔😔 #RIPSRNATHAN

You were the portrait i used to see every morning during assembly in the hall 😔 #RIPSRNathan

Used to see his photo in primary school, secondary school, jc etc. #RIPSRNathan

My primary and secondary school time we always saw him now we can never saw him anymore…😔😔😔 #RIPSRNATHAN #salutetoSRNATHAN

Im sad because he’s forever my president. I felt like i pass my secondary school life with him.#RIPSRNATHAN

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And some lost sheep

Can’t say I’m totally surprised, but #ripsrnathan

all the gr8 things are taken from us #ripSRNathan #Harambe2016

wait is this true huh #RIPSRNATHAN

#RIPSRNATHAN. Whose gonna be the next president? So sad.

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Undeniably, there is some youth populism and mob virality at work. Nevertheless, it is intriguing to watch young people collectively craft hegemonic modes of remembrance and grief in a space they may call their own… until all the mainstream media coverage and instructive grief takes over in the morning.

over and out,
wishcrys
0007hrs