Death not only affects our friends and family members anymore. When someone dies, there are literally hundreds and sometimes thousands of people – wondering – where did that person go? Posts go unwritten and shared, but that person keeps showing up in our feeds, on our friends list and even when we go to their profile. Why? Well, because most likely that person died, and their profile is still sitting in cyberspace, very much still alive. What happens to the Social Media Policies when you die?
The Reasoner covered this topic in 2009 in the form of asking: If you die, what will happen to your online accounts?
New rules have been put in place, recently – by most of the social media sites to modify this uncomfortable situation. I mean, imagine how family members feel every time they log into Facebook or Twitter and see their deceased relatives profiles or tweets over and over, knowing this person they loved, has moved on.
This is what prompted some of the most popular media sites to take action. Even though a huge percentage of Facebook users profiles are not alive – most offer alternatives to try to dissuade this painful situation.
It has been estimated that in 2010, over five million profiles are of deceased people. With the growth they have experienced, hitting a recent 700 million users, it’s no wonder.
Facebook is having a really hard time keeping up with the deceased, however there is an alternative, first if you are a family member, and second, if you have all the ‘right stuff’ you can memorialize your loved one’s profile.
You have to fill a form, and give them the members user name, password and a death certificate and they’ll close the account to new friends, so that existing friends and family can view the posts, add condolences, and the profile will no longer show up in searches.
Facebook also offers an ‘If I Die’ application that will allow a ‘live’ member to choose 3 friends that will be given access to their profile, as well as instructions on what the user wants. (Account deleted or memorialized).
Twitter offers an easier solution to removing an account/profile, as keeping a twitter account open is even less sensible than Facebook because just tweets are stored there. Twitter allows deletion of a family members account with notification of death by link to an obituary, or death certificate, as well as the members username and password. Just go to Twitter’s help section for more instructions and where to send information.
Social Media Policies When You Die – Infographics
Here is the now extremely popular infographics that we created showing how to prepare for death in the social media policy-enforced world:
MySpace
MySpace, although not used as frequently anymore, at least not as much as Facebook, does have a death policy, which will allow a family member to delete a profile. Their ‘death policy’ states that only a family member or executor can remove a profile.>
They don’t allow access or updates but if you have the user ID or email account, you can retrieve the password by clicking here.
If you don’t have that info, you might want to make sure you have proof of your relationship to the deceased, as well as a death certificate or copy of the obituary. They will also accept a link to a URL with a publication of the death, or funeral home website.
LinkedIn makes it a little easier for family members to close an account, that is if you have the account login information. However, if you don’t, they will need to be notified of the death of a user, faxed a complete death verification and gaining access has a whole other list of rules.
Google +
Google + is the newest craze in social media, and done extremely well. For those who dislike Facebook, or need a change, there is an alternative!
Their goal is to connect people securely, through ‘Circles”, which are friend circles you can categorize by work, friends, etc. – and “huddle” now simply called ‘Messenger’ which is a group messaging system, as well as the cool “hangouts” that allow quite a few people at once, to chat in specific chat rooms of their interest.
Their photo upload system is the best in the world, but then, what else would you expect from Google?
Their policy on death? Well it’s a bit cumbersome, however it has been upgraded since November 2011 to make it a little easier on family members. But a reading their death policy would be most beneficial, as it is still full of quite a few requirements.
What do you think about social media policies and their effect after you die?
Regardless of which avenue of socialization via the Internet you choose, each one has begun a new and different death policy for those who have left us. They have a long way to go with death, and hopefully will catch up soon so that the skeletons of the past are not popping up to torment us daily.
Learn more about social media policies on death with this Digital Death blogazine from Life Insurance Finder.
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Depressing idea but it’s essential now. Why does Facebook or even Google not advertise this more?
Diane, thanks for the comment.
The most important reason for not advertising this more prominently is the topic itself: death. Society has made discussing death such a taboo, even with the news media talking about the deaths of people daily, that companies want to focus on positive things that will get customers excited instead of things that may make customers become even more serious.
Remember: happier and excited customers tend to bring in more money than potential customers who get worried and feel uncomfortable about something related to a product/service offering.
In social media site there are many more users so that policies benifit each of them.The idea was not bad but death certificate and other things manage you.
In many places and situations, Death Certificates can also help your relatives more legal leverage in getting access to your social media accounts.
Why haven’t all these social media sites advertised this fabulous ideas till now? Its great to know this
Heh, because for social media sites and society in general, this is a very taboo topic. “Fabulous” is the further from the mind for majority of the society when it comes to death.
Social media like facebook, google plus and linkedin. With the help of social media we can publish articles, web promotion e.t.c., but not in micro blog like twitter. Promoting with the help of Digital Marketing Expert will help to identify those things in future.
Hmmmmm, not sure what you mean?
Interesting post! I really didn’t know that social medias have death policies. I thought that relatives or friends delete the account.
Yeah, with more and more people going online, this topic will become even more important as more relatives and entities try to get hold of accounts after someone’s death.
I have never thought about it. Even is important moment in politics work of social media.
Yep, this is very important in the politics of it all, and is probably being offered as a way to tackle the issue. Because one such an issue is brought to the spotlight, any social media or other company not dealing with this according to the wishes of the relatives/contacts of the deceased person are criticized and put into a bad spotlight by the media tremendously.
Good read. similarly for business profiles on B2B networking sites, they do have an option to transition their profile to alternate employee in the organization
Sad but it’s reality. All of us dies and i’m happy that social media sites set rules for this particular circumstances. I like Facebook policy especially the feature that allows you to select 3 persons that can have access to your account.
Scott, thanks for the comment! Yep, that is actually a very interesting policy, though check this out: http://thehackernews.com/2011/10/facebook-trusted-friends-security.html
Basically, if there are 4 people who want to take-over your account (haven’t tried it recently), one of them can claim to be you, and the other 3 “friends” can vouch for that person. Facebook will then assume that the person claiming to be you is in fact you.
Scary, right? Not sure if it’s still exploitable, though.
Wow, this is something really new to me. I bet ALL my friends don’t know this as well. Time to share this!
Mago Ricardo, lol. Do your friends talk about this?
This is a sensitive issue with wide ranging ramifications. Any site that insists on being inconsiderate and unreasonable will suffer a loss of users (family and friends hurt by the insensitivity).
Ken, interesting. However, not many people look for, or think of, the death-related social media policies of a site when they join a network, correct?
Yes, you most likely are correct that most people do not think at all about the “death policies” of whatever sites they visit or subscribe to. Simply because it’s the internet doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about people’s feelings.
Well everyone face death and social media is constant other than death but newer versions and new ventures took place as well.
Thanks Lira!
Do you mean social media is just an extension of things happening all the time, and soon something else will replace it too (like death)?
Thanks Ken!
Which social networks are you on? Have you looked into such policies for yourself?
I had thought about this and it is good to know that the networks have also. Always good to be aware and ready for everything.
Personally I rather like the idea of the page or site remaining fixed in time like a little bit of the person is still alive and not reflecting the reality that they have died.
Interesting post. To be honest, and I bet I’m not the first one, I hadn’t even given the topic really any thought. Obviously something that will become increasingly relevant in the years and decades to come. Odd notion to have a “digital will”.
not sure what you mean?
Interesting post. To be honest, and I bet I’m not the first one
i don’t think so that the idea is bad, i like this idea dude
Thanks Asim.
Do you look for such policies or have one for yourself?