Digital accounts after a death are now among the many things loved ones may have to think about. Social media, emails, photos saved online, subscriptions, and other platforms: our lives today leave a significant digital footprint that does not automatically disappear with us.
For loved ones, managing this digital presence can raise very practical questions, but also deeply personal ones. Should the accounts be deleted? Should the photos be kept? Should a profile be turned into a memorial space? There is not necessarily one right answer. The important thing is to understand the different options and take the time to preserve what matters before taking any permanent steps.
Which Digital Accounts Should Be Considered After a Death?
When we think about a person’s digital presence, social media often comes to mind first. However, our online footprint is generally much broader.
It can include:
- social media accounts;
- email addresses;
- photo and document storage services;
- subscriptions to digital platforms;
- e-commerce accounts;
- applications and services associated with recurring payments;
- certain professional or personal accounts containing important information.
Making an inventory of known accounts can therefore be a first step. It may be useful to start with those that contain sensitive information, paid subscriptions, or content that the family wishes to keep.
However, it is important to keep in mind that each platform has its own policies regarding the death of a user. The steps to take and the documents required may therefore vary from one service to another.
What to Do with the Social Media Accounts of a Deceased Person?
Social media occupies a particular place in our digital legacy. Over the years, it accumulates photos, videos, messages, and important moments from our lives.
After a death, different options may be available depending on the platform. It may be possible to request the deletion of the account or, in some cases, its transformation into a memorial account. Some platforms also allow their users to determine during their lifetime what they would like to happen to their account.
Before requesting permanent deletion, it may be wise to check whether certain content should be preserved. Family photos, videos, or posts may have significant sentimental value for loved ones.
A digital profile can even, in certain circumstances, become a form of memorial space. Messages left by loved ones, photographs, and shared memories make it possible to continue telling part of the story of the person who has passed away.
How to Manage Digital Accounts After a Death?
It is not necessary to settle everything immediately. As with many steps following a death, it may be preferable to proceed one step at a time.
Once the main accounts have been identified, loved ones or the person responsible for the estate can consult the procedures established by each service. Some companies require proof of death or documents demonstrating the authority of the person making the request.
Particular attention should be paid to accounts associated with subscriptions or recurring payments. Services that contain personal or financial information can also be handled as a priority in order to reduce the risks associated with unauthorized use of the account.
It is preferable to follow the official procedures established by the different platforms rather than simply using the deceased person’s login credentials. The rules surrounding access to accounts and data vary from one service to another.
Above all, before deleting anything, take the time to determine whether any information, documents, or memories should be saved.
Can You Prepare Your Digital Legacy During Your Lifetime?
As with funeral wishes and certain decisions related to the estate, it is possible to think about your digital legacy during your lifetime. This reflection can also be part of a broader approach to funeral prearrangements, which makes it possible to specify some of your wishes in advance and ease the decisions that loved ones will have to make at the time of death.
A simple first step is to make an inventory of your main digital accounts and subscriptions. It is then possible to specify what you would like to happen to some of them: would you like your profiles to be deleted? Would you like certain photos to be given to your loved ones? Would you like an account to remain accessible in a memorial form when this option exists?
Some major platforms also offer tools that make it possible to designate a person or specify what should happen to the account after a period of inactivity or following a death.
It is also possible to discuss this with a trusted person and plan a secure method for transmitting the necessary information. Passwords and other sensitive information should, however, always be stored with caution.
Digital Legacy, a New Dimension of Remembrance
The way we preserve memories is evolving with technology. Photo albums now exist alongside digital libraries, while letters and cards carefully preserved over the years sometimes have their equivalent in our emails, messages, and posts.
This digital footprint tells part of our story. Thinking about what we would like to do with it can therefore be part of a broader process of planning our wishes and the way we would like to be commemorated.
At Mount Royal Commemorative Services, we believe that every life deserves to be celebrated and commemorated in a way that reflects the person, their journey, and the connections they have created. Whether it involves choosing a place of remembrance, planning a ceremony, or considering the different ways to preserve memories, personalization allows families to pay tribute to their loved one in a way that reflects who they were.
