Ever wondered what will happen to your social media accounts and digital footprint when you pass away? Read on to find out more.
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Google’s legacy tool is Inactive Account Manager and you can:
1. Decide when Google should consider the account inactive;
2. Choose up to ten people to notify if your Google account becomes inactive;
3. Choose which data your trusted contacts get access to, and
4. Decide if your inactive account should be deleted.
How to use
1. Access Inactive Account Manager from the Accounts page – or use this link to access Inactive Account Manager.
2. Click ‘Start’.
3. Plan what happens to your data if you can’t use your Google Account any more’.
4. It asks you to decide how long to wait before triggering your plan.
5. You must provide a mobile phone number to which Google will send a warning text message before your account is deemed inactive.
6. You can also provide an alternate email address that is associated with your account.
7. You can then choose up to 10 people for Google to notify via email if your Google account becomes inactive.
8. You are also given the option of setting up AutoReply to inform anyone that you are no longer using this account.
9. The next window offers you the chance to decide if your inactive Google Account should be deleted.
10. You will be asked to review your plan before confirming.
Default position
If the account holder has not set up Google Inactive Account Manager, the personal representative of the estate may need a court order to obtain the account holder’s data to ensure their Digital Identity never dies..
Facebook can be one of the best ways for Personal representatives to let friends and family know that somebody has died. You may wish to appoint a legacy contact to manage your memorialised account. They will also be able to set up a tribute section to allow people to share comments, pictures, and posts on a separate page.
Facebook offers the account holder three legacy options: Top tips
Have your account permanently deleted when you die.
Memorialise your account and appoint a Legacy Contact. They must have a Facebook account to manage the memorialised account, but the functionality available to them is limited.
Set up a new tribute section, where friends and family can share posts on a separate page. This is not yet available in all countries.
How to use
If you want to have your account permanently deleted on your death, follow the process below:
In the drop-down menu on your account, click on ‘Settings & Privacy’.
Scroll down and click ‘Settings’.
Once under ‘General Account Settings’, click on ‘Memorialization Settings’ and select Edit
Tap ‘Delete Account After Death’, select ‘Yes, Delete After Death’ and click ‘Save’.
Default position
Currently, if you don’t use any of Facebook’s legacy tools then Facebook’s default is to memorialise the account:
The word ‘remembering’ will appear next to the user’s handle
You have the option to allow friends and family to share posts on your memorialised timeline
Facebook won’t serve a memorialised profile in the birthday reminders or people you may know features
The account is locked and no one can log in.
If there is no legacy contact appointed, a loved one will need to notify Facebook by completing a ‘Request to Memorialise Form’.
LinkedIn,
Legacy tools
LinkedIn does not currently have tools that allow someone to decide what will happen to their account when they die. Memorialised accounts allow a person’s legacy to remain on LinkedIn after they’ve passed away.
How to use
If you have the authority to act on behalf of someone, you will need to contact LinkedIn and provide a range of information. More information on LinkedIn’s options to memorialise or close the account of a deceased member is available here.
Gather the required information and documentation needed, then contact them to submit your request
Default position
A loved one will need to contact LinkedIn to report them as deceased, which will result in the account being hidden.
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