Digital inheritance: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:36, 18 December 2021

Revision as of 01:37, 18 December 2021

Line 53:

Social media services have policies and processes to confirm the identity and death of a deceased user.

[[Twitter]] does not allow access to deceased user profiles. They will, however, deactivate an account for someone who is "authorized to act on the behalf of the estate, or with a verified immediate family member of the deceased" provides the user's death certificate and their own [[Identity document|government-issued ID]].<ref>{{citeTwitter. web |url=https://support(n.twitterd.).com/articles/87894-contacting-twitter-about-a-deceased-user |title=Contacting''How to contact Twitter about a deceased user's |publisher=Twitter Incaccount''. |accessdate=2014-04-11Retrieved December 16, 2021, from |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325060722/https://supporthelp.twitter.com/articlesen/87894rules-contactingand-policies/contact-twitter-about-a-deceased-user |archivefamily-date=2015members-03-25 |url-status=dead }}account</ref>

It is [[Facebook]]'s policy to automatically memorialize a profile if they are made a aware of a user's death. Only verified immediate family members of the deceased may request that the account be fully deleted.<ref name=":3">Facebook. (n.d.). ''How do I report a deceased person or an account on Facebook that needs to be memorialized?'' Retrieved December 17, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/help/150486848354038/?helpref=related</ref> If a user would like to decide what happens to their account upon their death, they have two options. In account settings, they can choose to have their account automatically deleted after death, or set up a legacy contact who will have the ability to manage their memorialized page.<ref>Facebook. (n.d.). ''What will happen to my Facebook account if I pass away?'' Retrieved December 17, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/help/103897939701143/?helpref=related</ref> Facebook will not provide an account's login information to either a legacy contact or a family member.<ref name=":3">Facebook. (n.d.). ''How do I report a deceased person or an account on Facebook that needs to be memorialized?'' Retrieved December 17, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/help/150486848354038/?helpref=related</ref>

[[Facebook]] will also delete a deceased user's profile when requested by a verified family member.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/help/265593773453448?sr=1&sid=0PjUfWS6GD6jw8uav |title=How do I submit a special request for a deceased person's account on the site? |publisher=Facebook |accessdate=2014-04-11}}</ref> The request needs to provide proof of death such as [[death certificate]]. Alternatively, Facebook profiles can be memorialised. For this option, the request needs to include a link to an online proof of death, such as an online obituary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/?id=305593649477238 |title=Memorialization Request |publisher=Facebook |accessdate=2014-04-11}}</ref>

Both Facebook and Twitter have been prey to hoax celebrity death announcements and memorial pages over the year, as well as being entangled in legal battles for the rights to access a departed loved one's social profiles,<ref>{{citeCha, news|url=https://wwwA.washingtonpost E.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58836-2005Feb2 (2005, February 3).html |title=After Deathdeath, a Strugglestruggle for Theirtheir Digitaldigital Memoriesmemories. |newspaper=''Washington Post''. |date=2005https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-02dyn/articles/A58836-03 |accessdate=2014-04-11}}2005Feb2.html</ref> leading to the need for official action and processes.

[[LinkedIn]] has a process for [https://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2842/~/deceased-linkedin-member---removing-profile removing the profiles] of deceased members. The request may be initiated by family members, co-workers, or other LinkedIn connections. Profile removal begins with an [https://help.linkedin.com/app/ask/path/ts-rdmlp on-line request] for selected information about the deceased including an on-line obituary or equivalent proof of death.<ref name="urlDeceased LinkedIn Member">{{cite web