But what happens to your accounts when you die? Depending on which networks you use, you may have a say in how your digital legacy is handled.
With an estimated 8000 Facebook users dying each day, most social media companies already have policies in place for when their users pass away. Some, like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, allow accounts to be either memorialised or deleted. Memorialising your page preserves your posts while preventing alerts like birthday reminders from going out. Other networks, such as Twitter and Tiktok, only allow the account to be deleted or deactivated.
When it comes to memorialisation, social networks apply different rules to each account.
Facebook allows you to appoint a Legacy Contact. After you die, they will be able to moderate your account, change your profile picture, pin a tribute, download what you have shared, and accept friend requests. They won’t be able to remove friends or read your messages.
Memorialised pages on Instagram are locked. Nobody is permitted to access the account or change any of your posts. LinkedIn also locks memorialised pages, and removes any ability to engage with the page, such as giving kudos or asking for endorsements.
There are advantages to making sure your accounts quickly secured.
For your loved ones, memorialisation provides an online forum to share memories and grieve together. But there is also a security aspect to consider. Memorialising, locking or deleting your accounts provides protection against hackers, who might otherwise take advantage of an inactive account to obtain personal information about yourself and your contacts.
When you make a Will, including a list of your social media accounts and directions for how they should be handled will make it easier for your executor to locate, secure, and wind up your digital presence.