As we age and especially after we become parents, the importance of preparing for the future becomes clear. We draft wills and arrange for our belongings, finances, and even our personal stories. For example, my aunt maintained a journal for years, securely stored, with explicit wishes for it to be destroyed upon her passing. Although we found it difficult to comply, we respected her wishes because that was her desire.
In today’s digital age, your online presence deserves similar consideration. What becomes of your social media accounts after you’re gone? Without having shared your password, can someone request access from the platform? Currently, the answer is no. However, you can proactively establish a “legacy contact” on platforms like Facebook, who can manage your account in the event of your death.
This legacy contact will have specific limitations—they cannot access your private messages, alter your timeline, or unfriend anyone. Their capabilities include updating your profile picture, pinning a post to inform others of your passing, and approving new friend requests. To enable these arrangements, you must provide Facebook with clear instructions regarding the fate of your account, whether you prefer it to be memorialized or deleted altogether.
Google offers an alternative called the “Inactive Account Manager.” Though the name leaves much to be desired, it allows you to set parameters regarding account inactivity, notifications to designated individuals, and the actions they can take.
Twitter lacks a preemptive setup option but does have a policy for family members who wish to deactivate an account after someone has passed. Similarly, Instagram’s approach is rather basic.
The takeaway is that you need to devise a plan for your digital possessions, just as you would for your physical assets. If you want someone to maintain access to your cherished photos and posts, preparation is essential. This is yet another responsibility that comes with adulthood.
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In summary, navigating your digital legacy is as crucial as preparing your physical one. Start thinking about how to manage your online presence to ensure your memories and digital assets are handled according to your wishes.