When someone dies, their social media accounts often remain active — filled with posts, photos, and memories that friends and family may continue to visit. This guide helps you understand what options exist, how major platforms handle accounts after death, and what steps to take to manage them safely and respectfully.
Social media has become an essential part of our lives — often the place where life stories are shared and connections are made.
When a person passes away, these digital traces can:
Managing these accounts is now a natural part of modern estate administration — one that balances emotional remembrance with legal and ethical responsibility.
Each platform has its own process for managing accounts after someone’s death.While policies change over time, these are the main options across most major services:
Turn the account into a memorial page that remains visible but inactive.
Friends can share memories, while the content stays protected.
💡 Tip: Facebook lets you assign a “Legacy Contact” to manage your memorialised account — update profile pictures, respond to friend requests, or write pinned posts.
If memorialisation isn’t right for your family, you can request complete removal of an account.
This may be preferred when:
Removal typically requires a death certificate and sometimes evidence of executor status.
Some platforms allow data to be downloaded by an authorised contact before deletion.
This can be invaluable for saving photos, messages, or posts for family remembrance.
💡 Tip: Always check the provider’s Help or Privacy page before acting — procedures differ by country and account type.
Managing a loved one’s social media can stir deep emotions.
Some families find healing in preserving posts and messages, while others prefer to close these chapters quietly.
There is no right or wrong approach — only what feels right for the person’s wishes and your family’s values.
If possible, discuss your choices with other family members before making permanent changes. Once deleted, a social media account usually cannot be restored.
🕊️ Forevermore recommends pausing for reflection before acting.
Wait a few days, gather memories, and ensure everyone feels included in the decision.
The best time to think about digital legacy is before it becomes urgent.
Adding a short “digital wishes” section to your will or filling in Forevermore’s Digital Assets Register Template can help ensure your preferences are known — including what should happen to your social media accounts.
This practical template helps individuals, executors, and estate planners record essential details about digital accounts and files — safely and systematically.
This 30-day checklist walks you through the most important actions to protect and manage digital assets responsibly and lawfully.