*Advertorial Feature with LifeSearch*
So many of us write our wills, detailing whether we want to be buried or cremated, songs or texts we want playing or reading, who our personal effects will go to and exactly how much.
But just how many of us have actually considered what will happen to our social media profiles when we are no longer with us?
Some people may scoff at the thought of talking about what should happen to your social media profiles after your death but actually, it is quite important. So many people use their social media profiles and email accounts as virtual photo albums or personal document archives.
Do we really want these to die with us?
Difficult Discussions To Have
It is, of course, a very difficult discussion to have – but no more difficult a discussion than talking about what happens to any of your other personal items.
We want to avoid our loved ones being locked out of these accounts, unable to access those photos, those memories if they so wish.
Unfortunately hackers could also try to gain control of the account – if no one can access it, then complete control of the account could be lost to them.
Open And Honest Discussions
Insurance broker, LifeSearch are urging the nation to start talking openly and honestly about issues such as this to ensure that their family’s future – and theirs – is safeguarded.
They released a report in March 2019, talking about where they had polled over 2000 people between 17th and 21st of February 2019.
Out of these respondents, 24% thought social media and email accounts should be automatically removed after someone’s passing unless otherwise agreed by said someone.
I think I would agree with the 39% of respondents are worried about their digital presence when they die – so as you can see, it is a big thing and discussions do need to be had.
Personally I think my social media channels and blog should be allowed to be accessed by my family but my emails are just full of drivel so maybe those should be deleted and only keeping images and videos?
LifeSearch is now seeking to prompt conversations about such issues as part of its Let’s Start Talking campaign, which encourages the nation to be more open about the subjects that make us uncomfortable, including death, illnness, money and mental health.
Being A Blogger
As a blogger, I am probably more active than the average person on social media. I have a very active online presence and I dread to think of a time where my family could potentially be locked out of my social media or blog and be unable to access all the photos and those memories that we’ve made over the years.
My blog and social media channels are my online diaries and I want my boys to have them all. Not lose these memories for forever!
This is definitely a discussion I will be having with them very soon – I want to make sure everyone is on the same page and that they will be able to access all my online presence should that time ever come.
Keeping Our Online Presence Alive
For me the easiest way of taking control is to set up somewhere safe to store log on details for my husband if I go before him. That way he can download everything he thinks is worth saving (some photos should never be reshared however! )
Are you taking steps to secure your digital presence in the event of your passing?
What an interesting subject Jaimie. I have a couple of friends who have died. Neither were bloggers but one, the family completely closed their Facebook account. Which made me sad because we’d had some lovely conversations over Messenger and they disappeared along with the account. The other has their Facebook account left open by the family and they still update on his birthday, Christmas and the day he passed, which I think is really lovely because it means that those of us that were not in direct contact can still remember him. I think I need to put my passwords safe but for my family to find so they can do that for me. My blog will probably go when it comes to paying for hosting. But I’d like my Social Media Accounts left open.