What Happens to Social Media Accounts When You Die?

Memorialising an account typically means the profile remains visible in some form as a place where friends and family can see posts or leave messages, while active use of the account, such as logging in or posting new content, is generally restricted. This is designed to let a profile serve as a lasting tribute rather than being deleted outright, while also protecting it from being used or accessed in ways the deceased would not have wanted.

The specific features attached to a memorialised account, such as who can see it or whether a legacy contact can manage certain settings, vary between platforms and change as platforms update their policies. Families should check the relevant platform's current help centre for accurate, up to date information rather than relying on older guidance, since features that existed at one point are sometimes changed or removed.

Not every family wants an account to remain visible, and most platforms also allow a close family member or a person with proper authority to request that an account be permanently removed instead of memorialised. This is often a straightforward request but still generally requires proof of death, and sometimes proof of the requester's relationship to the deceased or their authority to act on behalf of the estate.

There is no single approach that is right for every family, and the decision between memorialising an account and deleting it is a personal one. Some people find comfort in being able to visit a loved one's profile, while others find it distressing and prefer it removed. Where the deceased expressed a preference during their lifetime, it is worth honouring that where practically possible, though platforms will generally act on the request of whoever comes forward with appropriate proof.

It can feel strange to think of a personal social media profile as something other than the deceased's own property, particularly given how much personal content it contains. Legally, however, the account is provided under a licence agreement that the user accepted when they signed up, and this licence generally cannot be transferred, sold, or bequeathed in the way a physical possession or a bank account can.

This means a will cannot leave a social media account to a named beneficiary, even where the account has some commercial value, for instance where it has a large following used for business purposes. What a will can do is direct who should deal with the deceased's digital affairs generally, through the appointment of executors, and it can also record, separately from the will itself, instructions about what the deceased would like to happen to specific accounts.

Where a family member happens to know a password, it is tempting to simply log in and manage the account directly rather than going through a platform's formal process. This is not without risk, since accessing an account without proper authorisation can potentially raise issues under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and most platforms' own terms also prohibit anyone other than the account holder from logging in, even after death.

Using the platform's official bereavement process, even though it can take longer, is the safer and more reliable route. It also avoids the practical problem of a memorialisation or deletion request being rejected or delayed because the account was accessed or altered in a way that raises questions about its authenticity.

Where a platform offers the option to nominate a legacy contact in advance, doing so removes much of the uncertainty for family members later, since it gives a named person some limited authority to manage the account once it has been reported as belonging to someone who has died. This is worth reviewing periodically, in the same way as a will, since circumstances and relationships change.

It is also worth keeping a simple note, held securely and separately from the will, of which social media accounts exist and what the account holder would like to happen to them. This does not need to include passwords, since a will and any accompanying documents can become visible to others during probate, but a general note of preferences can guide the family considerably when the time comes.