Digital Estate: Managing Accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing, & Other Platforms

What happens to my social media account when I die? Will it be deleted, frozen, managed by a legacy contact or authorized representative, or simply remain "as is"?

In the absence of any specific action, the social media account will remain as it was at the time of death. This means, for instance, that the deceased may continue to appear in friend suggestions for other users, or that another user might receive reminders about the deceased's birthday, work anniversary, or similar events. As a result, individuals who are unaware of the account holder's death may send well-wishes on these occasions, potentially leading to awkward or insensitive situations.

Options Offered by Social Media Platforms

Most platforms allow for accounts to be deleted or deactivated. In each case, it should be carefully examined what "deactivation" entails and how it must or can be carried out.

Of all the platforms we reviewed, Facebook offers the widest range of options. On Facebook, an account can be deleted, memorialized, or managed by a designated legacy contact. The legacy contact may post a final message on behalf of the deceased, update the profile or cover photo, or request account deletion. If permitted, the legacy contact may also download a copy of the content shared on Facebook. However, they cannot log in to the account, read messages, remove friends, or send new friend requests.

Have you thought about what should happen to your social media accounts after your death?

We would be pleased to assist you in making these arrangements.

Lucerne, June 15, 2021

Signed,
Simeon Beeler