This could be seen as a morbid topic, but it’s one I believe is very important.
What happens to your social media when you die? Most of us have built up a significant digital footprint. On average, we all have five social network accounts, and that includes messaging apps, and added to that, we have email accounts.
Grief is now shaped by our online lives, we don’t just visit graves, we visit timelines.
A final message or voice note becomes something you hold onto deeply. Some people find comfort in old profiles. Others feel haunted by unexpected birthday reminders or memories.
Did you know you can assign a digital legacy to someone after you die?
This is a conversation I had on this week’s Digital Download segment on Dublin City FM. Michael O’Byrne and I catch up every Thursday morning on Good Morning Dublin to talk all things marketing and tech. Listen back here:
Your digital footprint lives on
We’re all leaving behind a growing digital footprint – photos, messages, emails, voice notes, even playlists and videos. Unlike traditional letters or photo albums, this footprint is often private, platform-controlled, and sometimes inaccessible after death.
As someone whose job it was to read the obituaries on local radio, I understand the importance of expressing public condolences and notifying the public of death notices. This has expanded in the digital age, and RIP.ie is one of Ireland’s most trafficked websites.
But what happens when you pass away? What happens to your digital accounts and your footprint?
Platform rules
- Facebook: Legacy contact can manage a memorialised profile. Find more information here.
- Instagram: Profiles can be memorialised but not managed. Find more information here.
- TikTok: TikTok has a different approach.The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user. Once an account has been memorialised, it will be labelled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
- Google: You can activate Inactive Account Manager to pass on your data. Find out more information here.
- Apple: Lets you assign a Digital Legacy contact for iCloud and device access. Find out more information here.
- LinkedIn: Memorialised accounts allow a person’s legacy to remain on LinkedIn after they’ve passed away.. Find out more information here.
Who owns our content when we pass away?
We create it, but the platforms control it. Most terms of service say accounts are non-transferable, even to family. Even if your family has your password, they may be technically breaching the terms by logging in.
So what can family members do?
- Check if a legacy contact has been assigned.
- Contact the platform with the death cert and ID.
- Use tools like Google Takeout or Facebook Data Download to back up memories, if access is available.
- Encourage families to talk now about digital wishes, just like they would about a will.
Digital afterlife services & AI memorials
AI tools now create chatbots or voice clones of the deceased, for example, HereAfter AI and Replika. Of course, it raises ethical questions: is this helpful or harmful? Will we soon see people living on as avatars or bots? Would you want that?
When to delete a profile?
Some families leave it as a digital memorial. Others prefer to remove it for closure. There is no right or wrong answer, it is just personal preference. But it’s worth talking about now, what do you want to happen to your profile? I’ve already assigned my daughter Sophie as my legacy contact.
Planning your digital legacy in your will
Add digital wishes to your will and confirm who your assigned legacy contacts are; add them to your digital accounts. You can also use a password manager to store logins and access preferences, and give this to your solicitor or a trusted family or friend. For now, reflect on what you’d want saved, deleted, or passed on.
What would you want your final message to be? What part of your digital self would you like people to revisit? Maybe it’s time for a little digital housekeeping, not just to tidy up, but to be remembered in the way you would want to be. Delete old accounts, post great memories, it’s personal to you. But do have a digital legacy conversation today.
About the Author
Joanne Sweeney is a specialist in public-sector marketing and digital communications. She’s the author of Public Sector Marketing Pro and the creator of the Professional Diploma in AI for Public Sector Marketing. With years of experience in training, consulting, and advocating for digital transformation, Joanne provides insight and guidance for government agencies navigating the digital landscape. She is also the host of the award-winning Public Sector Marketing Show podcast.
