DANDELION GUIDE: AFTER THE GOODBYE
How to Handle Social Media
Your Loved One’s Online Presence
Handling a loved one's social media accounts after they pass away can be a delicate task, as these accounts can hold sentimental value and provide a way to remember them. At the same time, it’s important to take steps to protect their digital privacy and manage their online presence.
Each social media platform has a process for notifying them of a person’s death. This typically involves providing a copy of the death certificate or proof of the person’s passing.
How to Notify the Major Platforms
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Facebook allows you to either memorialize the account or request that it be permanently deleted. Memorialization ensures that the account is locked and remains visible only to friends or people who were connected with the deceased, but no one can log into it. If you choose to memorialize the account, friends can continue posting messages or tributes. To request memorialization, you’ll need to provide a proof of death, such as a death certificate.
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Instagram also allows you to memorialize the account, which keeps the profile visible but prevents any changes to the account. You can request this through Instagram’s help page by submitting a death certificate or other proof.
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To remove a deceased person’s Twitter/X account, you need to contact Twitter’s support team and provide documentation, like a death certificate. They may also delete the account upon request from a family member or estate representative.
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To memorialize an account, fill out the LinkedIn Deceased Member Report form, providing the profile URL, date of passing, and an obituary link. This keeps the profile visible for colleagues to see work history but prevents login. You can request the account be closed by contacting their customer support and providing a death certificate.
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YouTube is owned by Google which also manages Gmail and Google Photo. Google offers an "Inactive Account Manager" feature, which lets a person decide what happens to their account after a period of inactivity (e.g., after their death). You can set it up before they pass or request account closure by contacting Google support with proof of death.
How to Manage Each Account
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You will need to decide whether to memorialize or delete the social media accounts.
Memorializing: Memorializing accounts allows people to continue celebrating the deceased’s life, sharing memories, and posting tributes. If your loved one was active on social media and enjoyed interacting with others online, this option can help preserve their digital legacy.
Deleting: If you prefer that their digital presence be removed, deleting the account is an option. This can help preserve their privacy and prevent their account from being accessed by anyone unauthorized.
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Passwords: If you need access to your loved one’s social media accounts and they haven’t shared passwords, you may need to go through legal processes. Some social media platforms allow you to request access to a deceased person’s account through legal avenues, such as providing a death certificate and proving you’re an authorized representative (trustee/executor or heir).
Email Accounts: Be sure to check their email accounts, as many social media platforms are linked to email addresses.
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Secure the Accounts: Make sure that the deceased’s social media accounts are not left vulnerable to hacking or unauthorized access. This may involve changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication on any active accounts.
Avoid Scams: Sometimes, scammers will attempt to take advantage of an account’s security vulnerabilities after a death. It’s important to ensure the account is securely locked and that the personal information isn’t misused.
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Leave Messages or Tributes: If the account is memorialized, you may wish to leave a message thanking others for their condolences or acknowledging their tributes. This can be an emotional way to process the loss.
Decide Whether to Respond: You might also want to decide whether you or other family members will respond to comments or messages left by friends and family on social media. Some people find comfort in replying, while others prefer to keep the interaction limited.
Consider Your Own Post: You may want to post your own announcement of their death on their account.
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Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google Photos may hold a collection of photos and videos that are cherished memories. Here are a few things to consider:
Download Content: If you would like to preserve your loved one’s photos and videos, make sure to download them from their social media accounts before deleting or memorializing the accounts.
Share or Organize Photos: If you want to share memories, consider creating a digital album or memorial page for close family and friends to view and contribute to.
Consider Printing: You might want to print some of the photos from social media or digital albums as physical keepsakes or create a photo book as a tribute.
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If you want to honor your loved one’s online presence, you can create a memorial or digital legacy for them on a dedicated platform. Several websites specialize in digital memorials, where family members and friends can contribute stories, memories, and photos.
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Will Provisions: If your loved one had included instructions in their will regarding their digital presence or social media accounts, make sure to follow those instructions. Some people include specific directions about their digital assets, like social media accounts and online content.
Trustee or Executor’s Role: The trustee or executor of the estate may have the legal authority to manage the deceased’s social media and digital assets. This might include ensuring the accounts are memorialized or deleted according to the loved one’s wishes.