When you die, should your loved ones have access to your Facebook, Gmail, and other online accounts? Or What Happens to Your Online Accounts When You Die?
As more people continue to jump on the latest social networking site or app to share their lives and interests with friends, dealing with the grim task of figuring out what to do with all the online accounts and social profiles of a deceased loved one is becoming more of a common situation that families are needing to face these days.
If a deceased user kept their login and password credentials completely private, then getting into any of their online accounts to obtain information or delete the account can be a tricky process for family members.
When ignored, these online accounts — particularly the user’s social media profiles — tend to remain active online well after the user’s death.
To tackle this growing trend, a lot of major websites and social networks that collect user information have implemented policies for those that need to take care of a deceased user’s account.
Here’s a brief look at how a few of the web’s biggest user-driven platforms suggest getting in contact with them so you can gain control of a deceased loved one’s account or have shut it down completely.
> Reporting a Deceased Person on Facebook
> Accessing a Deceased Person’s Google or Gmail Account
> Contacting Twitter About a Deceased User
> Contacting Instagram About a Deceased User
> Deactivating a Deceased User’s Pinterest Account
> Options Available When a Yahoo Account Owner Passes Away
> Closing the PayPal Account of a Relative