What happens to Facebook and Instagram accounts when the owner dies?
Unless you delete them yourself, your Facebook and Instagram accounts will outlive you. But you can plan and set up what happens to them after you pass on.
When a Facebook or Instagram account owner passes away, the account doesn't vanish immediately. Meta, the company behind the platforms, gives users the opportunity to plan ahead by setting up a legacy contact. This person, chosen by the deceased, can manage the account after it has been marked as memorialized. Memorialization keeps the account active, retaining the posts, photos, and videos, but hides it from explore feeds and birthday reminders.
While relatives can't log in or access private messages, the legacy contact can pin a post, manage the profile, and even download shared content. However, the legacy contact has limited powers, such as the inability to log in, view private messages, or send new friend requests. If no legacy contact is appointed, friends or family can request memorialization, provided they have the necessary documentation.
Once memorialized, the account can't be edited later without the legacy contact's involvement. Both Facebook and Instagram offer the option to delete the account permanently after proving the death, typically requiring documents like a death certificate and proof of identity. This process is more extensive and requires substantial evidence that the requester is a close family member or has legal authority.
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