Losing someone is never easy, and in today’s digital age, our online presence can hold many memories and connections. Facebook is a platform where many of us share our lives, making it a valuable asset even after we are gone. It’s important to plan ahead for what happens to our Facebook account when we pass away.
Facebook understands this and offers a feature called a “legacy contact.” This is someone you choose to manage your account after you are no longer around. They can do things like pin a post in your memory, respond to friend requests, and update your profile picture. Essentially, they become the caretaker of your digital legacy.
Setting up a legacy contact is simple. You just go to your settings and privacy> settings> personal details> one more time, personal details> account ownership and control> memorialization> Facebook> choose a legacy contact>confirm. It is important to note that you must be Facebook friends with the person before you assign them to be your legacy contact. It’s a good idea to pick someone you trust, like a close friend or family member, who understands your wishes for your account.
By assigning a legacy contact, you are ensuring that your memories and connections on Facebook are preserved in a way that you’d want them to be. It’s a thoughtful step to take for yourself and for those who care about you.
Remember, while we can’t control everything in life, we can plan for the future. And assigning a legacy contact for your Facebook account is one way to do just that.
Your legacy contact can*
- Write a pinned post for your profile (e.g. to share a final message on your behalf or provide information about a memorial service).
- View posts, even if you had set your privacy to Only me.
- Decide who can see and who can post tributes, if the memorialised profile has an area for tributes.
- Delete tribute posts.
- Change who can see posts that you’re tagged in.
- Remove tags of you that someone else has posted.
- Respond to new friend requests (e.g. old friends or family members who weren’t yet on Facebook). Bear in mind that if you were added as a legacy contact after your loved one passed away, you won’t able to respond to new friend requests.
- Update your profile picture and cover photo.
- Request the removal of your account.
- Turn off the requirement to review posts and tags before they appear in the tributes section, if you had timeline review turned on.
- Download a copy of what you’ve shared on Facebook, if you have this feature turned on.
We may add more capabilities for legacy contacts in the future.
Your legacy contact can’t*
- Log in to your account.
- Read your messages.
- Remove any of your friends or make new friend requests.
*Text utilized verbatim from META Page
Some important links to read:
- If you need to report a deceased person’s Facebook account or have it memorialized, you can contact META for assistance.
- If you have a special request regarding a medically incapacitated or deceased person’s Facebook account, you can contact META for assistance.
- To request the removal of a deceased family member’s Facebook account, you can contact META.
- To memorialize an account, you can reach out to META with the necessary details and documentation. Once the request is processed, the account will be memorialized, and a “Remembering” banner will appear on the profile to indicate that the person has passed away.
- If you need access to content from a deceased person’s Facebook account, you can also reach out to META. However, this is only considered in rare cases. You will need to prove that you are an authorized representative, such as a family member, and provide a court order. Keep in mind that submitting a request or required documentation doesn’t guarantee access to the account’s content.
- Once META receives your request, they will memorialize the deceased person’s account. This means it will be preserved in a respectful manner.
This process can be incredibly overwhelming, especially when dealing with strong emotions. If you are feeling lost or confused, please know that you’re not alone. We understand how challenging this can be. That’s why we’re here to help. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our compassionate JBC team. We are here to support you through every step of the way.
