Internet are perhaps one of the grossest extensions of your life, after your death. For now, your life seems to be impossible without social media but have you thought what will happen to your social media account after your death? This is a sobering problem because now I am not curious, but worried to know what happens to my presence on social media after I die.
1. Personal Data handling
Don’t worry, your privacy is maintained ever after you are no more. Your personal data cannot be accessed unless a legal order is obtained or if you have authorized a person to handle your account before dying.
Personal Data handling
2. How long is your account active?
Well, after your death, your Facebook account remains active until the death is reported. About other social media platforms, things are different. Your account is active for 6 months on twitter, Pinterest can never be deactivated, LinkedIn can be deactivated when reported and Google can put your account to sleep after 9 months or until the death is reported.
How long is your account active?
3. Twitter Policy
Twitter can help you to handle the account of a deceased person but you need to give an extensive proof which includes a copy of the deceased’s ID proof and his death certificate.
Twitter Policy
4. Instagram policy
In a case of Instagram, it is said that the account of deceased would be active and the posts would be available according to the previous setting. But the account would not be shown in public spaces like searches.
Instagram policy
5. Facebook Policy
Facebook’s policy on death is to turn the deceased user’s profile into a memorial, “as a place where people can save and share their memories of those who’ve passed”. The privacy settings for the deceased person’s account remains the same and friends can tag him, share posts and write on his wall like before. The company will also deactivate the user’s login information. This prevents anyone from guessing the user’s password and logging in to cause mischief.
Facebook Policy
6. Username on social accounts
What about your username?Well, Facebook and LinkedIn allow someone else to claim your username whereas respecting the privacy of the user other social media like twitter, Google, Pinterest do not share your username with anyone else.
Username on social accounts
7. YouTube
YouTube grants access to accounts of deceased persons under certain conditions. It is one of the data options that you can select to give access to a trusted contact with Google’s Inactive Account Manage.
YouTube
Author: Rima Chowdhury
