When a loved one passes a way, as well as grief, upset and sadness, there is also a lot of admin. There are bills, bank accounts and so many other pieces of paperwork that it can feel very overwhelming.
Another aspect is our digital lives, something that we don’t think about at first when considering what is left behind. And while this is not a priority, as so much of our lives are online it is interesting to look into what happens when someone passes away yet their online life remains.
Here we will look at the most popular platforms and what the process is, as every platform is different.
Facebook allows an account to be:
Memorialised
- Profile remains visible.
- Friends can post memories.
- The word “Remembering” appears next to the person’s name.
- Nobody can log into the account.
OR
Deleted
- If the person requested this before death.
- Or if an authorised family member requests removal.
People can also nominate a Legacy Contact while they’re alive to manage certain aspects of the memorial page.
Instagram (owned by Meta) works similarly.
Memorialised account
- Remains visible.
- No one can log into it.
- Existing posts remain.
Removal
- Immediate family can request account removal with supporting documentation.
X (formerly Twitter)
X doesn’t currently offer memorialised accounts.
Family members can request:
- Account deactivation.
- Removal after death.
The account generally won’t remain active as a memorial.
LinkedIn allows family members or colleagues to notify them of a death.
They can:
- Close the account.
- Remove the profile from searches.
This is often overlooked but can be important for professional contacts and help prevent distress from recruiters, for example.
TikTok
TikTok doesn’t currently offer memorialisation.
Family members can request:
- Deactivation.
- Removal of the account
This is one of the biggest ones.
Google may contain:
- Gmail
- Photos
- Drive
- Documents
- YouTube
- Calendar
Google offers an Inactive Account Manager.
People can decide:
- Who gets access.
- What data can be shared.
- When Google should consider the account inactive.
Without planning ahead, accessing these accounts can be very difficult so if you are thinking of your own future, this is probably the most important one to consider early on.
Apple (iPhone, iCloud)
Apple introduced Legacy Contacts.
A chosen person can:
- Access photos.
- Access files.
- Access certain data.
Without this, even close family can struggle to access treasured photos and memories, so much like Google, it is worth thinking about.
Online Banking
Every provider is different.
Generally:
- Accounts are frozen once notified of death.
- Executors or administrators deal with closure.
- Banks should be contacted as soon as possible.
The UK’s Death Notification Service can help notify multiple banks at once.
Subscription Services
Families often discover ongoing subscriptions such as:
- Netflix
- Spotify
- Amazon Prime
- Disney+
- Microsoft
- Adobe
These may continue charging until cancelled.
Photos and Memories
This is often the most emotional part.
Many families discover:
- Thousands of photos.
- Videos of grandchildren.
- Voice notes.
- Family memories.
Yet nobody knows:
- Passwords.
- Storage locations.
- Cloud accounts.
These digital memories can be just as precious as physical photo albums. In years gone by, people left behind photo albums, letters and keepsakes.
Today, many of our memories exist online. Taking a little time to think about your digital legacy can make life much easier for those you leave behind and help ensure precious memories aren’t lost.
We offer a simple and free service where you can record your funeral wishes, making a note of who you wish to have access to your accounts and treasured memories.
