Tip: You do this with social media accounts when someone dies

We put a lot online on social media every day. But what happens to our accounts when we die? Here’s what to do with social media accounts when a loved one dies, and what to do with your own.

Digital legacy

You may not realize it, but on the internet you leave more than you think. If you were to die, you also leave a considerable digital legacy. Think of all your photos, music, or your files in iCloud. But especially on your social media accounts you leave a lot of data.

You prefer not to think about what happens to your accounts when you die. For many people (who don’t know you very well), social media is the first place they contact you. It is therefore also important to think about what will happen to your social media accounts when you die. If you prepare for this, your loved ones will not be surprised, and they will not have to arrange a lot more to have your accounts deleted.

Arrange yourself

The first thing you can do is think about what you would like to happen with your accounts. Do you want everything to be removed or do you want it to last forever? This can also be different per social media platform.

You can also share your login details with someone you trust, or leave it somewhere in a safe. For Facebook it is also smart to nominate a number of friends who can help you if you can no longer register yourself.

  1. Go to ‘Settings’ on your Facebook account;
  2. Click on ‘Security and Login’;
  3. Under ‘Set up extra security’, choose three to five trusted Facebook contacts.

These contacts will receive a code and url from Facebook to help you sign up. This can therefore also be used by these contacts if you have passed away.

You do this with the social media accounts of a deceased loved one

Has a loved one died and has he or she done nothing with her social media accounts? Then there are also ways to have his or her social media accounts deleted after the death of a loved one. In this overview you can read how to do that.

Facebook

On Facebook, the profile of a deceased person becomes a memorial page. Family and friends can then share memories of this person with each other. That way, the account is also immediately locked: no one can log in to a memorial page anymore.

Through this page from Facebook you can apply for memorial status for a deceased person at Facebook. Don’t want the Facebook profile to turn into a memorial page? Then you can go through this page submit a request to Facebook to delete the account. You do need proof that you are authorized and proof that your loved one has died.

Deletion is different from deactivating the Facebook account. If you deactivate your account, you can also reactivate your account. In addition, some data, such as chat messages, will still be visible to other Facebook users. If you delete an account, you will no longer have access. Your photos and posts will therefore be removed from Facebook’s database. Some data will still remain, such as chat messages you have sent to friends.

Instagram

For Instagram it actually works the same as for Facebook when someone dies. You notify Instagram that someone has passed away, after which this person’s account is given a memorial status. On this page you can apply for memorial status. You must enclose proof of death with the form.

When the request is approved, the account will also be locked here and no one can log in to this account. If you want to have the account completely removed, go to this page from Instagram. In addition to proof of death, you must also include proof that you are a direct family member.

Twitter

The only way to notify Twitter that someone has passed away is to deactivate the account. If someone close to you has died, please let Twitter know via this page. You will then receive an email with further instructions to have the account deactivated. You will then be asked to send a copy of your ID and the person’s death certificate. If approved, Twitter will deactivate the account.

It may also be the case that a Twitter user is still alive, but is unable to contact Twitter themselves. You can also have an account deactivated via this page. Then you will be asked for a copy of your ID and the ID of the owner of the Twitter account. You also need a power of attorney. For example, nobody can just have someone’s account deactivated.

WhatsApp

Deleting your account in WhatsApp is a lot easier, provided you have access to someone’s phone. In WhatsApp, go to your settings and select ‘Account’. Then you can tap on ‘Delete my account’.

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