So what happens to your Facebook profile after you die? Does your account get deleted or are you permanently a member even after you passed away? This is an interesting topic because it raises the question of privacy and what should be done with your personal online accounts. I have to imagine that everything you do and post on the web does get archived somewhere. Everything you do and post on Facebook or any other social media website is getting logged. The question is raised, when you pass away who gets access to your account and should your account remain active? Do social media websites have an obligation to close these accounts or can they just linger in the web forever?
Facebook has decided to keep user profiles on its server even after a user has died. There has been some recent backlash after a new feature has been issued for the website on October 23rd. Some of you may have noticed the “reconnect with recommendation” on the right hand side of your home page. Some people are complaining that some of the users that are being recommended to reconnect with are of people who have passed away. This can be especially painful for those that were close with the individual.
According to Time, Facebook states that it is important for members of the family to contact Facebook to let them know that the user has died so they can remove them from public areas. For example, they will be removed from suggestions, search engines, their status updates will no longer be displayed and other restrictions. Families must provide proof that their loved one has passed away to prevent pranksters from closing accounts of individuals that are still living.
Families do have a choice and can opt out of having their loved ones Facebook page memorialized. The family needs to contact Facebook to have the account closed.
I would have never considered or thought about the subject of what happens to your Facebook or Myspace page after you die until I came across the article on Yahoo. It’s kind of strange to think that some people may actually put in their wills who gets access to their Facebook when they die. A bigger question should be – should people tell a social networking site when someone has passed away – do they have a right to know?
