When a person dies, loved ones face a series of tasks and decisions to say goodbye. However, a crucial aspect is sometimes overlooked in the digital age: the fate of social media profiles. With the Day of the Dead around the corner, it’s a good time to reflect on what’s happening with your profile. Facebook when you die and how you can leave instructions for the treatment of your personal information.
Social networks after death: a digital reality
Nowadays, a large part of our lives takes place in digital platformsincluding communication about deaths. WhatsApp and the social networks have become the new obituaries, transforming the way we communicate and socialize around death.
But what happens with the information of the people who are no longer among us in the digital world?
What happens to your Facebook when you die?
On Facebook, there are two options to manage a user’s account. deceased user. The first involves the user designating a legacy, someone responsible for their account after their death. This is done in the Settings section, specifically in the part of security.
However, if they have not been left advance account instructionsfamily members can resort to Facebook Help Desk to report the death and request management of the account. This usually requires documentation of the deceased or even an obituary as proof.
Once Facebook accepts the requestfamily members can choose two paths: convert the account into a commemorative profilewhich allows friends and family to share memories, or permanently delete the account.
Memorial profiles: remembering those who are no longer here
The commemorative profiles on Facebook They provide a space for friends and family to gather and share memories of the deceased person. These profiles include features such as the “In Memory of” tag next to the name of the deceased, the ability to share memories in the memorial timeline, and the permanence of content shared by the person in the platform.
Furthermore, the commemorative profiles They do not appear in the suggestions of «People you may know» nor in birthday reminders. No one else can log into a memorial profile account.
Legacy contacts: managing your profile in the digital afterlife
Legacy contacts are people designated to manage account of a user after his or her death. These contacts can accept friend requests on memorial profile name and make changes to the Profile photo and the cover photo.
Choosing a legacy contact is a preventive measure to ensure that your digital presence is managed according to your wishes once you have left.
Deleting your account in case of death: a final goodbye
There is the option that you Facebook account be completely removed if you die. This means that Facebook will immediately and permanently delete all your messages, photos, posts, comments, reactions and information.
Both you main profile as any profile additional in Facebook They will also be eliminated.
Managing your preferences for the digital afterlife
To manage these options, follow these steps:
- From your main profile, click on your profile photo at the top right of Facebook.
- Select “Settings and privacy” and click “Setting«.
- Then, go to “Account Center” and, in “Personal information“, Choose “Account ownership and control» and then «Memorial beads».
- Here you can choose to make your account memorial or delete it when you die, designating a legacy contact if you choose the first option.
- It is important to mention that not all users can access this option in the account center, so it is essential to be informed about it.
For friends and family: the digital legacy
In addition to manage your own online presence After your departure, it is a good idea to create a space where friends and family You can share memories of your loved one.
You can do this by creating a group on Facebook or opt for external services such as virtual cemeteries, such as eladios.com.ar, where it is possible schedule a virtual wakereceive condolences and digital offerings.
A digital will
In the digital world, information and interactions persist, leaving a digital footprint that can be difficult to completely erase. To delete your personal data from the internet, you must request it directly from the service providers. For example, Google allows you to request the removal of information in your search results.
Ultimately, in addition to having a physical will, it is essential to designate what will happen to your data after you leave. The management of your profiles on social networks and your online presence are important decisions that must be considered, especially in the context of the Day of the Deadwhen we remember our loved ones and reflect on digital life in the Hereafter.
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