Got a social media will?
The government thinks you should. With social apps in the daily life of most Americans, Uncle Sam wants to shine some light on what happens to all those status updates and photos after the person who created them kicks the bucket.
For anyone on a social platform, a blog post at USA.gov is advising that the participants designate how they want their social fingerprints handled after death. A social media will help tie up loose ends.
Just like a normal will, you’ll appoint a trusted friend or family member as an online executor. This person will carry out the instructions you’ve laid out for your accounts and e-mail addresses.
USA.gov recommends that you follow these steps:
- Review the privacy policies and the terms and conditions of each website where you have a presence.
- State how you would like your profiles to be handled. You may want to completely cancel your profile or keep it up for friends and family to visit. Some sites allow users to create a memorial profile where other users can still see your profile but can’t post anything new.
- Give the social media executor a document that lists all the websites where you have a profile, along with your usernames and passwords.
- Stipulate in your will that the online executor should have a copy of your death certificate. The online executor may need this as proof in order for websites to take any actions on your behalf.
Whether you amend your current will or create a standalone document informally, make sure your friends and family are aware of your wishes.
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