4 January 2026 Malu Costa. malu_costantine/Threads The vibrant promise of a young life was cut tragically short on January 31, 2026, when Maria Luiza Costa da Silva, an 18-year-old social media personality known online as Malu Costantine, was fatally stabbed following a violent altercation in the streets of Recife, Brazil. Maria had built a devoted following of nearly 30,000 on Instagram by sharing aspects of her life, personality and style in a way that resonated with fans a

2 February 2026 Brie Bird. Kendra Bird/Instagram On what would have been the 10th birthday of young social media star Brie Bird, her family and community marked the day with a series of emotional tributes that underscored the remarkable impact she had in her short life. Brie, who gained a devoted global following for her candid documentation of a five-year battle with recurring neuroblastoma cancer, died on December 11, 2025, at the age of nine, and her memory continues to re

28 January 2026 Creator: Irfan Khan/ Credit: Los Angeles Times Shirley Raines, widely known as Ms. Shirley on TikTok and Instagram and celebrated for her compassionate work with people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and beyond, died at 58 on January 27, 2026. Her nonprofit, Beauty 2 The Streetz, announced her passing with deep sorrow, saying that her loss was devastating not just to her team but to the countless individuals whose lives she touched through generosity

26 January 2026 The online creator community was shaken by the death of Brazilian social media influencer Jessica Daugirdas, who died on January 25, 2026 at the age of 35 after an arduous three-year battle with colorectal cancer that she courageously shared with her followers. Daugirdas had amassed more than 100,000 followers across platforms like Instagram and TikTok by chronicling her journey with honesty and grace, turning her personal struggle into a source of inspiration

20 January 2026 The world of social media was stunned on January 19, 2026, when beloved Memphis-based influencer and entertainer Jimmy McMahan, better known by his online name Whyte Folkz, died in a motorcycle accident that has left fans, family and the wider creator community reeling from loss. McMahan, 50, who had more than 120,000 followers on Instagram and was known for his comedic sketches, candid videos about life in Memphis and his charismatic presence, was killed in t

14 January 2026 The digital world and his tight-knit online community were rocked earlier this week when Mexican content creator Isaac Efraín Valadez, known affectionately as Chakin Valadez to his followers, was found dead inside his truck in Ensenada, Mexico on January 10, 2026. Valadez was 44 years old, a father, husband, hard-working delivery driver and a beloved travel influencer whose warm personality and open-road videos had earned him more than 164,000 followers on Fac

13 January 2026 The creative community on social media and fans around the world were left in shock and mourning this week after the death of Nigerian influencer Esther Thomas, known online as Sunshine, who passed away following complications from surgery to remove a large fibroid. Thomas was just 26 years old when she died on January 9, 2026, her family announced in a heartfelt statement shared with followers on social media. Her sudden passing has sparked an outpouring of g