What Happens to Your Online Presence After You’re Gone?
These days, most individuals have some kind of online presence. In fact, for many of us, much of our personal information is stored somewhere online. Our financial and business information, music, photos, and other vital documents are usually all stored digitally.
Maybe you really haven’t thought about this question yet, but you need to consider: What will happen to your online presence, to all your digital assets, after you’re gone?
Your Online Presence After You’re Gone
Will your accounts just disappear? Will others be able to access your personal information? Could someone steal your identity after your death?
Facebook has considered these questions and now offers you the option to designate someone to be your “Legacy Contact.” This person will have the authority to post information, answer friend requests, and update a profile information, in the event of your death. Unfortunately, not every company has a convenient option like this, so you need to make sure you have a digital Will, to make sure that all of your digital assets are in good hands after your death.
Create a Digital Will
A digital Will informs others of how you would like your online accounts to be handled after your death. To create one, follow these steps:
- Choose an Online Executor: Choose a person that you can trust to follow through with your decisions. The executor will be able to close or memorialize your accounts. It is helpful if this person understands the internet and how to navigate the various sites you use.
- Draw up a formal document stating how you want the accounts handled: A couple of examples could be: 1. Do you want your e-mail closed before anyone reads it? 2. Do you just want Facebook deactivated or your Timeline memorialized ? 3. Do you want your digital photos deleted or saved and shared with family?
- Understand the privacy policies (concerning death) of the websites you are associated with: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube have death policies stating the requirements for any action to be taken by the Executor, family member, or friend. Keep an updated list of your online accounts and instructions for what to do with each in your Will.
- Provide your Executor with a list of all the Websites and Login Passwords to all accounts that will need to be addressed: Most Website policies require the Executor to know the passwords and log-in credentials to be able to complete any of the actions needed. These accounts and Usernames/Passwords can be kept private and in your sealed Will until your death if you prefer.
- State in your Will that the Executor will need a copy of your death certificate: Your online executor will need a copy of your death certificate to complete most actions online.
These steps may seem cumbersome at first, but it does not take too much time to outline your wishes regarding your digital
identity. After you have completed your “Digital Will” you will have great satisfaction in knowing that your wishes will be followed and your heirs will not have difficulty in completing these actions since you have provided them with the instructions and information necessary to address these accounts.
