In today’s world, social media plays a big role in everything. Whether it be marketing, diaries, or quick searches, we ultimately find ourselves lurking on a friend of a friend’s user page at a random time during the day. If you’re active on social media, you know how prominent Facebook is in our life. And now, the social media titan can even play a role in your afterlife.
Thankfully, today’s estate planning encompasses not only your tangible assets—bank accounts and real estate—but your digital assets as well, which include cryptocurrency, websites, social media accounts, and many more. Though social media may seem insignificant compared to the rest, social media accounts function as a virtual diary of your daily life, making it a key part of your legacy—and one you will most likely want to protect.
Quite frankly, social media is pretty new, which means there are very few state laws governing how your Facebook account is handled after your death. Considering this, Facebook itself is in nearly total control of what happens to your profile after you die. And without proper planning, your post-mortem Facebook user can haunt the loved ones you leave behind. And although you possibly will take it into your own hands, many are working with legal professionals, like us, to incorporate it into their estate plan.
Here are three options for what you can do with your Facebook account when you die:
- Nothing
Unless Facebook is notified, it assumes you’re alive, and your profile remains active indefinitely. While this might not seem like a big deal, your profile will continue to be included in Facebook searches, People You May Know suggestions, and birthday reminders, which will constantly remind your family and friends of your absence, and even worse, ex-friends and/or trolls will be able to post potentially hurtful messages on your timeline.
- Delete It
You can notify Facebook that you’d like to have your account permanently deleted upon your passing, or a friend, family member, or your executor can make the same request after your death. This will completely delete your profile and all its content from Facebook for good.
Additionally, one of these individuals can request that your account’s content be downloaded and saved before the profile is deleted. However, Facebook will not allow any third party to access or download your personal messages or login information.
- Memorialize It
In 2009, Facebook began allowing accounts of the deceased to be “memorialized” at the request of a friend or family member. Once an account has been memorialized, only selected friends can see the profile or find it in a search. Your profile will no longer appear in friend suggestions, nor will anyone receive birthday updates or other account notifications. When your account is memorialized, the word “Remembering” will be added next to your name on your profile. A memorialized account is locked, so its original content cannot be altered or removed, even if an individual has your login info.
Make sure to preserve your legacy. Since social media and other digital property are such an important part of your life, you should work with us to ensure that all of your assets are protected by your overall estate plan. We can help you name a digital executor who can quickly and easily manage your social media accounts upon your death.
Contact us today to get started on your Legacy Session, protecting not only your financial assets and material possessions but your most precious personal wealth—your wisdom, love, and leadership. Or schedule online right here.
