What happens to someone’s online life when they die? This guide explains how to manage social media accounts after death, with a focus on the legal and practical position in England and Wales. It covers memorialising, deleting or leaving accounts, how the main platforms work, and how to plan your own digital legacy.
Why Your Digital Legacy Matters
Our digital footprint can be just as significant as our physical belongings. Social media accounts hold memories, photos and connections, and occasionally they have financial value. So, managing them thoughtfully helps preserve memories, protect the person’s privacy and reduce the risk of identity theft. It can also bring comfort to grieving friends and family.
Social media accounts do not disappear automatically when someone dies. In England and Wales, there is no specific legislation on digital assets after death. Instead, the general principle is that the executors or administrators of the estate deal with the person’s assets. However, each platform’s own terms decide what is actually possible with an account.
Your Options for Managing Social Media Accounts After Death
When dealing with social media accounts after death, you usually have three options:
- memorialise the accounts;
- delete the accounts;
- leave the accounts as they are.
Before deciding, check whether your loved one left any instructions, for example in a letter of wishes kept with their Will. Also check whether they named a legacy contact on any platform.
Memorialising accounts
Memorialisation turns a profile into a lasting online tribute. The account stays visible to the people it was shared with, but it is clearly marked as belonging to someone who has died. As a result, friends and family can revisit memories and, on some platforms, share messages of condolence.
Deleting accounts
Deleting an account permanently removes its content, including photos and posts. This may be the right choice if the person wanted their online presence removed, or if the family feels it best respects their privacy.
Before you request deletion:
- first, discuss it with family and close friends, because it cannot be undone;
- next, save any photos, videos or posts you would like to keep;
- finally, think about the emotional impact, because some people find comfort in visiting old profiles.
To delete an account, a platform will usually ask for:
- the account username or profile link;
- the account holder’s full name;
- proof of death, such as a death certificate;
- proof of your identity;
- proof of your authority or relationship, such as the Will naming you as executor, or a birth or marriage certificate.
Leaving accounts open
Sometimes leaving an account as it is can be a comforting choice. However, an unattended account is more vulnerable to hacking and misuse. So, if you have access, consider tightening the privacy settings.
How the Main Platforms Work
Platform processes change from time to time, so always check the platform’s current help pages before you start.
Facebook, owned by Meta, lets users choose a legacy contact in advance. Once the account is memorialised, the legacy contact can manage tribute posts and update the profile and cover photos. They can also ask for the account to be removed. However, they cannot log in or read private messages.
If no legacy contact was chosen, a family member or friend can ask for memorialisation through Facebook’s online form, with proof of death. Once memorialised, “Remembering” appears next to the person’s name. In addition, the profile no longer appears in birthday reminders or friend suggestions. Immediate family members or executors can ask for the account to be deleted instead.
Instagram is also owned by Meta and works in a similar way. Anyone can ask for an account to be memorialised by providing proof of death. Once memorialised, nobody can log in or change the account, and it no longer appears in places such as Explore. Alternatively, immediate family members can ask for the account to be removed, with proof of their relationship and the death certificate.
X (formerly Twitter)
X does not offer memorialisation. Instead, a person authorised to act for the estate, or a verified immediate family member, can ask for the account to be deactivated. X does not give account access to anyone after a user’s death.
A family member or someone acting for the estate can ask LinkedIn to close or memorialise a profile. Usually, they need the person’s name, profile link, the date of death and proof of their authority.
YouTube and other Google services
YouTube is part of a Google Account. So, the account holder’s Inactive Account Manager settings apply, if they set them up. Otherwise, family or executors can use Google’s form for a deceased user’s account.
TikTok, Snapchat and WhatsApp
These platforms mainly focus on deleting accounts. Generally, you contact their support team with proof of death and of your relationship to the person. WhatsApp accounts also become inactive and are deleted after a long period without use.
Planning Your Own Digital Legacy
To make things easier for your loved ones, you can plan ahead:
- First, make a list of your online accounts, including social media, email and financial services.
- Next, decide what you would like to happen to each one.
- Then, set up legacy features where they exist, such as a Facebook legacy contact.
- Also, record your wishes in a letter of wishes and tell your executors where to find it.
- Finally, think about two-factor authentication, and keep backup codes somewhere secure that a trusted person can reach.
Do not write passwords in your Will, because it becomes a public document after probate. Instead, a reputable password manager with an emergency access feature can help. Our separate guide on managing email accounts after death covers email providers in more detail.
The Law in England and Wales
The law on digital assets after death is still developing. At present, executors and administrators generally have the right to deal with the estate’s assets. However, platform policies may limit what they can do, and these policies can conflict with the wishes in a Will. Also, logging in to someone else’s account without authorisation could be an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, so use each platform’s official process.
The Law Commission has carried out work on digital assets in recent years. So, the law in this area may change in future.
Looking After Yourself
Dealing with a loved one’s social media accounts after death can be emotionally hard. It is fine to take your time over decisions. While some people find comfort in visiting old profiles, others prefer a clean break. There is no right or wrong approach. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out to friends, family or a bereavement support service.
Planning Ahead with A.D.E. Wills
When we write your Will, we can talk through your digital assets and help you prepare a letter of wishes for your online accounts. If you would like to discuss this, call us on 01865 507174 or email info@adewills.co.uk. If you are dealing with an estate, A.D.E. Wills does not handle probate, but we can refer you to an appropriate professional.
