The Ultimate Guide To Understanding Social Media Will

Social Media Will is a new phenomenon that has gained much traction in the past few years. But what exactly is social media will, and why do you need to embrace it? Social media is a big part of our lives and has changed communication. Most of our days start with Social Media updates – from checking our messages to checking out what the rest of the world is up to, not to mention posting selected parts of our lives online. It helps us instantly connect with our loved ones via instant messaging apps, sending in-the-moment photos and videos.

But have you ever wondered what would happen to our Social Media accounts after passing away?

Even after our passing, our Social Media accounts and other online accounts would still be present, and everything stays on the Internet forever. Deciding what should happen with your social media accounts after your death is essential. Do you want to delete your social media accounts or create a memorial page instead?

What you will learn from this article:

What is a Social Media Will?
Why do you need a Social Media Will?
Who Needs A Social Media Will?
What You Should Include in Your Social Media Will?
What Happens if You Don’t Have a Social Media Will?
How Do You Create a Social Media Will?
How Often Should You Update Your Social Media Will?
How to Secure Your Social Media Accounts?
- Safeguard Your Social Media Assets
Why Should You Add Social Media Accounts to Your Digital Estate Plan?
What is a Digital Executor for a Social Media Will?
How to Choose a Digital Executor for Social Media Will?
Do I Need a Digital Executor for my Social Media Will?
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Digital Executor?
What can Legacy Contact of Social Media Account Do?
What Are The Legacy Policy Of Different Social Media Platforms?
Covid-Proofing Your Social Media Accounts With a Social Media Will
Things to Remember While Creating a Social Media Will

What is a Social Media Will?

A Social Media Will is a document that outlines your wishes on how your loved ones should manage your social media presence after your passing. You can think of it as instructions on how your Digital Executor should manage your Social Media accounts.

For example, you can specify which of the accounts should be deleted or memorialized. You can even direct them to share downloaded data with your family. This way, your family can stay connected with you even after you pass away.

The Social Media Will should mention all the necessary details, such as your personal information, the Digital Executor’s username, and password. It also says how your loved ones should manage the accounts.

Why do you need a Social Media Will?

As the world dives deep into technology and we continue to spend so much of our time online, we are bound to leave a digital legacy. All the photos, videos, messages, and emails will be on the Internet forever.

So, what will happen to my social media when I’m no longer here?

Social Media Will can help you protect your Digital Legacy, which consists of your social media data such as posts, videos, pictures, and messages. If you don’t have a Will for your Social Media handles, then your accounts are left to the Executor or a family member.

Social media platforms hold our thoughts, expressions, feelings, and memories that make up our online identity. Perhaps you can create a “final post” or message in the form of pictures or videos for your family and close friends to remember you.

Who Needs A Social Media Will?

Different people use Social Media for various purposes. Whether you’re a social media influencer or run a business using social media or as a form of entertainment, you need to consider drafting a Social Media Will to hand over your legacy to your next of kin.

So, who needs a Social Media Will? Anyone who uses it and wishes to leave a legacy behind using their Digital Estate Plan. In the past, social media was not something that could be “handed over.” Still, as social media becomes a big part of our lives, Social Media Will is necessary to make it easier for your relatives or executors to manage your account.

This is where the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (also known as RUFADAA) comes into play. RUFADAA is a statute granting access to an individual’s internet accounts to the Executor of an Estate or an attorney after death or incapacitation. RUFADAA, created by the Uniform Law Commission (U.L.C.), expands the authority customarily granted to an Executor or trustee of an Estate when managing a person’s tangible assets to encompass their Digital Assets as well.

What You Should Include in Your Social Media Will?

Social Media Will should contain the vital information required to carry out the will. Without the correct information, your family will have a tough time managing your accounts as they have to make the decisions. You can choose to remove that burden by mentioning all the information required in your Social Media Will.

Here are some details that you need to add to your Social Media Will:

Personal information, i.e., your name and address.
Login credentials of your social media accounts.
Instructions for your Executor on how to manage your accounts.
Information on your downloaded data from the social media accounts, such as a Digital Vault.
Pictures and videos you want to pass on to your family and friends.
Your Executors details.

A detailed Social Media Will makes things easier for your Executor to fulfill your wishes. Without a Social Media Will, your loved ones may face challenges accessing your online accounts. The primary purpose of RUFADAA’s enactment in most jurisdictions is to dictate how to manage someone’s Digital Assets after they die. The Executor or Trustee of a Decedent’s Estate can access and manage the estate’s Digital Assets and electronic communications under RUFADAA. The definition of digital asset or electronic communication can vary from state to state.

What Happens if You Don’t Have a Social Media Will?

Suppose you leave the accounts inactive and inaccessible. In that case, your family has to deal with the aftermath, i.e., making decisions for your social media accounts and data, which you can only access after probate. Additionally, sharing passwords without a Will violates privacy laws. To avoid breaking the law, use a Social Media Will to clearly state your passwords, which your Executor can legally access.

Take, for example, the dispute between a fifteen-year-old girl’s family in Germany who met with an accident by a train in an underground station and Facebook. As assumed suicide caused her death, the family wanted clues to her still unexplained death through her Facebook account. Facebook refused access to her history as they do not give out the account details of a deceased person’s account per their terms of use.

Cases like these are unfortunate. To make it easier, you need to create a Social Media Will while considering the terms of use of each social media platform to avoid any legal disputes and help your family deal with your death without any burden.

You could also be susceptible to identity theft, where identity thieves would steal information of the deceased person by stealing death certificates, reading online obituaries, stealing your account information, and selling it on the dark web.

Furthermore, active social media users are 30% more likely to be susceptible to identity theft; users of Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook are 46% at a higher risk of being victims of identity fraud.

When the account is left inaccessible, there is a potential threat to the person’s profile where pictures, videos, or credential information can be stolen for years, going by unnoticed, which can severely affect the natural grieving process of the family members.

Therefore, to avoid creating a tragedy like that, Social Media Will would help you keep your accounts, and the data secure by deleting or storing the information in a Digital Vault.

How Do You Create a Social Media Will?

We all live different lives and spend our time differently online. While some use it to run their small businesses, others share their experiences online through pictures and videos.

The purpose behind creating a Social Media Will is different in both cases. While the former needs to pass on the monetary holding of the accounts, the latter person would want to share memories with their loved ones. Therefore, an ideal Social Media Will must reflect your unique purpose behind creating it.

So, here are some things to remember while creating a Social Media Will:

Be of Legal Age:
People who reach the legal age of 18 years and above are allowed to create a Will. It is important to consider drafting a Social Media Will as early as possible to prepare you for any unexpected circumstances.

Include All Your Accounts:
If you have an account or have used it at some point, consider adding it to your Social Media Will so that your Executor would have no legal issues to deal with if you miss out on mentioning any of the accounts.

Download and Backup Your Data:

When you mention the social media accounts, include the type of data you have in each account, such as photos, videos, messages, comments, and so on, to make it easier for the Executor to safeguard it and pass it onto the people you would like to have them. Knowing the type of data you have will make writing the will easier.

Management of the Account:

The next step is knowing how you want your digital data and identity managed after your passing/death. For example, you can choose to delete or deactivate the accounts completely or memorialize them.

Digital Executor:

Choose someone you trust to manage your accounts and digital presence. The Executor will have legal access to all your social media accounts and execute your Social Media Will according to how you would like.

Update:

As your social media usage changes over time, update the will to add a new set of instructions. Maybe you’ve deleted an account or changed a password. Updating your Social Media Will makes sure your Executor receives only the latest information.

How Often Should You Update Your Social Media Will?

Our Social Media usage changes as we grow. Perhaps we become more active or prefer not to waste time on it. Maybe you want to change the Executor or would like to add/remove accounts. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to review it yearly and update it as your Social Media usage changes. “Ideally,” a Will should never be outdated.

This way, you can choose to leave behind a Social Media Legacy that will impact your family and friends positively after you pass away.

How to Secure Your Social Media Accounts?

Social Media might not be the first thing that crosses someone’s mind after a loved one has passed away. If left unattended, the accounts stay inactive forever or can quickly become victims of identity fraud.

Something as simple as providing login details to access the accounts and stating your preferences on how to manage those accounts, and data, can relieve the burden off your family to make those decisions for you.

Since our social media accounts are an integral part of our lives, it is essential to know how each of the social media platforms deals with the accounts of deceased users:

You can delete all your accounts or,

Memorialize the accounts on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram

The social media platforms also allow you to download your data from the accounts and store it in Digital Vaults or a physical drive to create a Social Media Legacy.

Safeguard Your Social Media Assets

While using social media accounts, the amount of information we share online goes unnoticed. Your personal information, such as your name, pictures, posts, and videos that are important to you, can be hacked and stolen. While alive, getting help to get back your information is more accessible, but dealing with a deceased person’s hacked account and data can be emotionally painful.

Securing Social Media accounts is a priority both when you’re alive and in the afterlife. Safeguard your Social Media accounts through a Social Media Will to protect your data, and here’s how to do it:

Make a Plan
Making a plan for your social media accounts to protect your data might initially seem unimportant. But it is a good idea to think about your final wishes and how you can protect your data after you pass away. So think of these questions:

- What should I do with my accounts? Do I want to delete my accounts or let them live on forever?
- Should I download all my data or delete them? Where can I store them?
- Who do I trust to ensure my data is safe?

In your Social Media Will, leave instructions on what you want to do with the social media accounts, as each site has different options for taking care of the handles after death. Mention the person you want to manage the social media account and your data.

Use the Legacy Contact Feature
Social media such as Facebook allow you to appoint a ‘legacy contact’ who can take care of your account after you pass away. They can memorialize your account and would be able to:

- Update photos and pin the last messages.
- Accept or block new friend requests.
- Allow others to share memories of you.

Choose someone you trust to handle your accounts so they can ensure that it is protected in safe hands.

Use Password Manager
Make an inventory of all your passwords and login details of your Social Media Accounts. Then, the details can be shared as mentioned in the will through the password manager, a software that creates passwords for all your accounts.

Create a strong password for your accounts via password manager that provides access to your accounts using a master code. This way, the social media accounts are protected well, whether in the web browser, cloud, or desktop.

Why Should You Add Social Media Accounts to Your Digital Estate Plan?

Social Media accounts are a part of your Digital Assets, which are part of your Digital Estate Plan. Securing your Social Media information enables your family to access your account legally. A Will for your digital assets, including Social Media accounts, ensures a hassle-free process for your executors to manage them.

If your social media account is not present in your Digital Estate Plan, your family and close friends would have to face unique challenges that can be hard to overcome. That is why your social media accounts are an essential part of your Digital Estate Plan:

By giving access by providing passwords and login details, your family can easily manage them according to your preferences.

They can download your data and keep it safe in a Digital Vault or an external drive.

Protect the accounts and the data from identity fraud

Memorialize the accounts and follow through with any wishes mentioned on your Social Media Will

Ensures no data is lost and prevent any legal disputes with social media platforms

Your Digital Executor will fulfill your wishes for your social media accounts if you add them to your Digital Estate Plan. By doing this, your accounts are safely handled by the right person and ensure peace of mind for family and friends.

What is a Digital Executor for a Social Media Will?

A Digital Executor for a Social Media Will is the person you appoint in your will to manage your Social Media accounts after your death. Upon receiving permission from the websites, the Digital Executor can either delete the accounts, create an online memorial, or pass on specific information to others in your will.

If you are a social media influencer, you likely earn wages through social media, which also needs to be protected. Perhaps you have a youtube channel with numerous videos and earn revenue through advertisements. They are assets by themselves, and you might lose them if you do not allow access to your Digital Executor to manage them. Also, consider contacting an estate lawyer to understand how to manage your social media business accounts properly.

How to Choose a Digital Executor for Social Media Will?

A Digital Executor should have the right qualities to manage your accounts according to your Social Media Will. Here are some of the essential qualifications to look for in your Digital Executor:

Should be tech-savvy and know how to use the Internet

Should be detail-oriented and carry out their responsibilities as stated in your Social Media Will

Should be patient and understand your wishes

Do I Need a Digital Executor for My Social Media Will?

A Digital Executor plays a vital role in carrying out your Social Media Will. Without a Digital Executor, managing your accounts would be difficult. Your family or friends could be confused about the decisions to make regarding your social media accounts and who should be responsible for them. That is why it is required to mention a Digital Executor as they:

Distribute all your Social Media Accounts

If stated, they can also memorialize your accounts

What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Digital Executor?

A Digital Executor is one of the most critical parts of your Social Media Will. Without mentioning your executors, your family and friends may not know your wishes and can get confused about who should carry out your wishes. So, the roles and responsibilities of a Digital Executor for your Social Media Will are:

Managing your Social Media handles by either closing them or memorializing the account (depends on your wishes)

Archiving your data- files, photos, videos, messages, and playlists.

Delete or store any files that you wish to be kept hidden.

Inform online friends or followers of your passing.

Distributing your social media accounts and information among loved ones.

What can Legacy Contact of Social Media Account Do?

A Legacy Contact can delete an account or memorialize it. Upon contacting social media sites, they can request them to delete or commemorate the account. Some legacy policies, such as for Facebook, let you designate a legacy contact to look after your account in case you pass away.

The Legacy Contact can do the following:

Manage who can post, who can see a post, delete posts and remove tags.

Manage tribute posts.

An updated profile picture and cover photo.

Respond to friend requests.

Request the removal of the account.

You can also download data from the websites and pass it on as your Social Media Legacy.

Based on a study on user levels of social media, Oxford Internet Institute stated that there will be more deceased users’ accounts than living by 2070. After all, Social media accounts are an essential part of your Digital Estate.

What Are The Legacy Policy Of Different Social Media Platforms?

Some social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have introduced a feature known as Memorialization. Networking platform LinkedIn also has a memorialization feature. Let’s look at how social media giants have taken measures to save their deceased user’s profiles.

Memorializing a Facebook Account

Users have an option to choose a Legacy Contact. Steps leading to choosing a Legacy Contact are pretty simple and if you are interested to know more about it, have a look at our blog post on How to Memorialize a Facebook Account.

Once a Facebook user passes away, and the Legacy Contact informs Facebook of their loved one’s death, Facebook turns the deceased user’s Facebook profile into a Memorialized account. Nobody can log in to their account, not even the Legacy contact. Friends and family members can post photos, videos, and messages on the memorialized Facebook profile.

Users who do not want their Facebook profile or page preserved can instruct their Legacy Contact to delete the account.

Covid-Proofing Your Social Media Accounts With a Social Media Will

COVID-19 changed the world in ways we never fathomed. Not only has it changed the lives of several people drastically, but it also changed the way we use Social Media. Times have changed, from working remotely, to hardly meeting friends and family; 76% of our screen time has increased during the lockdown.

It also means that we’ve evolved with our Social Media usage, such as posting our home life online and embracing it. But, the pandemic has changed our lives forever; not knowing when or what will happen, it is better to be ready for everything. That is why Social Media Will would help you and your loved ones prepare for the unexpected future.

Things to Remember While Creating a Social Media Will

A Social Media Will is an integral part of your Digital Estate that contains all the information required to manage and secure your Social Media accounts after you pass away. Everyone who uses Social Media should write a Social Media Will as it is a proper document that allows you to distribute your Social Media data to your beneficiaries.

These tips should help you create your Social Media Will with little effort:

Choose More Than One Executor
While one person can carry out the will, you can choose more than one- for backup or just for them to execute a different set of instructions.

Plan for your Social Media memorial in advance Along with mentioning details about the Social Media data you have, you can say if you want to have a Social Media Memorial. Additionally, note details of the memorial such as who can see it, who can participate, and who will carry out this responsibility.

Limit access to your Executors.
You can limit access to the responsibilities your Digital Executors would have on accounts and data. Perhaps there are some files you would like no one to see, limiting access to the person who would execute your will.

Store Your Social Media Will
Your Social Media Will should appear with the will for your Digital Assets or any other Will. Assign a place for it by entrusting it to someone who would take care of it along with your Digital Estate Plan.

Mention ALL your Social Media accounts
This one goes without saying; you should mention all your accounts. It would be easy to access and manage for your family members. Whether you are inactive or have stopped using it, list all your Social Media accounts.

Update Your Will Regularly
A Social Media Will needs updating every 4-5 years, such as after significant life events, changes in passwords, or if you deleted any accounts. You can change the contents of your will according to your comfort and add/remove the content as you see fit.