Internet users have more than five social media accounts on average, according to GWI. Regardless of whether you have one account or a dozen, there’s a question you should ask yourself: What do you want to happen to your accounts when you die? By taking a few simple steps now, you can ensure your wishes are carried out and spare your loved ones unnecessary difficulties.
What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts After You Die?
After a person dies, there are three basic ways their social media accounts may be handled:
- The account may remain online so friends and family can view it, but with a special status to indicate that the user is deceased.
- The account may be deleted.
- The account may remain open with no change to its status.
Which route is taken depends on a few things. First, the social media site needs to be notified of the death. Otherwise, the account will likely remain active. Assuming the social media company receives the required notification, whether the account is deleted or memorialized depends on the company’s policies as well as the wishes of the deceased and their loved ones.
How Major Social Media Companies Handle User Deaths
Some major social media companies have developed specific policies to handle the death of a user.
- Facebook allows the profile to be memorialized or deleted. Users can decide what they want to happen to their own accounts after their death by going into their account settings and naming a legacy contact or selecting the “Delete After Death” option. See Facebook for more information.
- Instagram (which shares Facebook’s parent company, Meta) also offers the option of deletion or memorialization. As with Facebook, users can name a legacy contact or select the “Delete After Death” option in their account settings. See Instagram for details.
- X (formerly Twitter) will work with the person’s estate or a verified immediate family member to deactivate an account after the user’s death. X says it cannot give access to anyone else, regardless of their relationship to the deceased. Accounts that are deactivated are deleted, so loved ones will not be able to view the account.
- LinkedIn says it can close or memorialize an account after the death of a user. Anyone can report a user as dead to request the process of memorialization, but account deletion can only be carried out by someone with a copy of the person’s death certificate and legal documents showing they have authority to act on behalf of the deceased user. See LinkedIn for more information.
Why Your Social Media Accounts Deserve Attention in Estate Planning
Social media accounts are often, at best, an afterthought in estate planning. However, what happens to these accounts can have a profound impact on a person’s loved ones.
- Photos and memories are stored online. Many people record vacations, milestones, holidays and other happy times on social media. Loved ones may want to view these memories for years to come, and they may be heartbroken at the thought of losing access to them.
- Scammers can take advantage of forgotten accounts. If an account is left active but ignored, it becomes vulnerable to hackers, who may access sensitive information or use the account to spam contacts. Imagine getting a spam message from a deceased loved one – it’s a scenario most people would want to avoid.
- Online accounts are the only way some people stay in contact. You may have old friends you never see anymore, but you still stay in touch online. You may also have online friends you’ve never met in real life, but who are still important to you. If you were to die unexpectedly, they may never know what happened to you unless someone updates your online accounts.
Take Steps Now to Protect Your Online Legacy
- Make a list of all the social media accounts, online forums, dating apps and other accounts where you post.
- Find out the policies and procedures of each site. For sites like Facebook that let you make selections, make sure your selections reflect your wishes.
- Store information where a loved one can find it. Leave a list of your social media accounts, including your usernames, and instructions stating what you want to happen. If you want someone to access your account to leave a final message, provide secure instructions on how to do so.
- Review your plan regularly. Over time, you’ll open and close new accounts and change your passwords, so you’ll need to update your instructions.
Many people forget about online accounts when they start thinking about estate planning. Do you know what else you’re forgetting? An estate planning attorney can help you make sure you’re covering all your bases. For help creating a comprehensive estate plan that addresses both your physical and digital assets, contact Skinner Law.