Over the past 20 years or so, social media has become increasingly consequential and increasingly prevalent in American life. If you’re like most Americans, you spend considerable time on at least one social media account. As such, it’s important to consider what will happen to your accounts after you pass away.
Your social media profiles feature personal memories, interactions and in some cases, valuable digital assets. Without proper planning, these accounts may become inaccessible, leaving loved ones uncertain about how to manage your digital legacy. As a result, you’ll want to address your digital footprint as you work to craft a comprehensive estate plan.
Platform policies matter
Each social media platform has implemented its own policies regarding what happens to an account after the account holder passes away. For example, Facebook allows users to choose between two options for their account after death. If you have a Facebook account, you are empowered to designate a “legacy contact.” This individual will be able to manage certain aspects of your profile, such as posting a final message or updating your profile picture. Alternatively, you can opt to have your account permanently deleted upon your death. If no action is taken, Facebook may memorialize your account, which will prevent it from appearing in public searches and allow friends and family to share memories.
To better ensure that your social media accounts are managed according to your wishes, it’s important to familiarize yourself with each relevant platform’s policies and to take action accordingly. Additionally, you may want to consider leaving account login information in a secure place, such as with your digital executor or in a password manager, so your loved ones can access your accounts when necessary.
Thinking about a time when you can no longer manage your affairs yourself can be tough. However, as “death comes for us all,” it is – unfortunately – necessary.