Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Inc.

‘By 2100 there could be 4.9 billion dead users on Facebook.  

So, who controls our digital legacy after we have gone?’ 

When a friend has a birthday, Facebook sends a notice. When a brother or sister-in-law celebrate their anniversary, Facebook sends a notice. Facebook and other online platforms keep us up-to-date on the life events of our friends every day, even for those who have died. 

There is no discrimination in the digital world. When a person dies, their virtual selves can remain, existing in the same online space used daily by billions of people. It’s a double-edged cyber-sword, a reminder of our loss, but also a thread that keeps us connected. A place to tell stories about loved ones, to laugh, cry and be comforted. In this way, social media has also become a space for grief. 

When to close an account is reminiscent of other issues that bereaved families would have had to face, such as disposing of the deceased’s clothes. This can be a very emotional process as clothes and possessions are full of meaning and memories, therefore it is a process that should not be rushed but undertaken when the bereaved feel able to do so. 

Now there are decisions you can make. Do you want your social media accounts to live on or not? Have you named a Digital Executor? Our virtual footprint after death is a choice we can make now, and can be included in our end-of-life plan.  

Everyone should understand that your digital life will carry on after your death, whether you want it to or not. In order to help your family and loved ones make arrangements for your final wishes, it is recommended to have things in order. Perhaps you have preplanned in advance to help relieve them of the burden, but it is also important to ensure they will have a handle on your digital life.  

Allow Email Access 

One of the most important things your family members will need is access to your email account. If they don’t have that, it’s hard to shut down your social accounts, cloud storage, and other things. Make sure your family has your email addresses and the passwords to those accounts. 

List Social Accounts 

Your family may be ‘friends’ with you on social media, or maybe they aren’t. Either way, it’s good to have a list of social accounts you are on along with your names and passwords on those accounts so your loved ones can take control over them. We suggest you keep the list and passwords in a safe location, like in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box but make sure you’re next of kin knows where to find it. 

Protect Against Hackers  

It is unfortunate, but there are people out there who take advantage of those who are grieving and even those who have passed away. Hackers might attempt to access your social media accounts and send messages to ‘friends’ on that account with nefarious motives. You can change the passwords on the accounts regularly after a loved one passes on, just as you do your own, to protect them against those who wish to take advantage. 

Talk To Family Before Making Moves 

Talk to those closest to the loved one who passed on before you take any action in closing any accounts to ensure they are okay with it and approve of the process. This will ensure you do not miss anything.  

Plan Ahead 

Because of the difficulties dealing with digital trails after a death, more and more people are deciding to make arrangements for it when they pre-plan. This can mean having one designated person who knows how to gain access to the different online accounts, giving the information to your attorney or having a printed list of all your accounts and passwords kept with the rest of your important documents. It is an important aspect of preplanning. 

A digital legacy includes all the online accounts, digital assets, and internet profiles that are left behind when a person dies. Some people may only have an email address while others maintain an extensive digital footprint over their lifetime. Digital assets can include things like: 

• Email Addresses – includes personal and work email addresses. 

• Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, etc. 

• Communication Apps – Skype, WhatsApp 

• Websites and Blogs – personal/business websites and licensed domain names 

• Gaming – Xbox, Wii, PlayStation, ESPN 

• Financial Services – Online bank accounts, trading, 401K (and retirement accounts), PayPal 

• Entertainment – Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Cable TV, dating profiles 

• Photos, Music, Books – Shutterfly, Kindle, iTunes, Spotify 

• Online Shopping – Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, Etsy 

• Travel – Uber, Airbnb, Expedia, airline/rental car apps 

• Cloud accounts 

• Photo and video storage accounts 

• Health/medical accounts  

• Other websites that store your financial information 

Resources 

Here’s a quick look at a few options made available by the three biggest social media platforms. 

Twitter: Twitter closes accounts of the deceased at the request of family members but only via a Privacy Form. 

Facebook: You can add a ‘legacy contact’ to your account. This is someone you choose to look after your online profile if it’s memorialized. To add a legacy contact, go to your account’s general setting, select “settings” and click “manage account.” Type in a friend’s name and click “add”. To let your friend know they’re a legacy contact, click “send.”  

Instagram: If you see an Instagram account that belongs to someone who’s passed away, you can report it and Instagram will turn it into a memorial. To make a report, contact Instagram’s Help Center and provide an obituary or news article as proof of death. Only immediate family members can request the account to be removed. 

Plan Your Digital Afterlife Now 

Managing a digital legacy is a significant part of the end-of-life process. Some of the personal digital assets stored online cannot be recreated, re-purchased, or re-downloaded, which makes them priceless. 

Creating a digital legacy plan for these valuable assets is just as important as writing a will or preplanning a funeral. Taking care of the details now will provide much-needed peace of mind to you and your family when the time comes 

The choice to keep, delete, or memorialize your social media assets is yours, but you have to let someone know.  

For more information on understanding your digital footprint or our continual care program, please email us at contact@hpmcgarry.ca  

This article contains excerpts from Authors Kelley Edwards and Johanna J. Lunn.