Why Social Media Doesn’t Just “Disappear”
Sophie’s* grandfather passed away last August, leaving behind her grandmother and caregiver father to settle the estate. For the most part, Sophie had tried to stay out of the planning and focus on processing her grief. Still, it surprised her when she got a ping from her grandfather’s Facebook account that September. Why hadn’t his account been closed?
Like many Canadians, Sophie experienced the bittersweet reality of her grandfather’s online presence living on after he passed. Sophie’s story is a reminder that our digital lives often outlast us. Photos, messages, comments, and birthday notifications don’t automatically disappear on their own.
That raises an important question: what will happen to my social media accounts after I die? This can have real emotional, legal, and privacy implications for the loved ones you leave behind. Executors often assume they can manage social media accounts like other assets, but the rules are different.
Social media accounts exist on privately owned platforms and are governed by each company’s policies rather than Canadian estate law. The terms and conditions which dictate what happens to your social media accounts after death will depend on the platform. Most platforms allow accounts to be memorialized or deleted, but family members or executors must request this and provide documentation. We’ll walk through how different platforms handle access after death, what family members should expect, and what you can do to prepare.
What Happens to Social Media Accounts When Someone Dies?
In most cases, social media accounts follow one of three paths after death:
- The account remains active indefinitely unless the death is reported
- The account becomes memorialized, depending on platform policies
- The account is deleted after proof of death is submitted
Most platforms won’t act unless someone reports the death. The social media profiles of the deceased will continue to appear in search results, memories, and friend suggestions indefinitely.
Can family members access social media accounts after death?
No, not usually. Even if you are legally appointed as an executor, you do not automatically gain access to social media accounts. Account access is governed by the social media platform, and the privacy policies and terms of service will dictate who has access to the account and what they can do.
Do social media accounts count as digital assets?
Yes, social media accounts are considered digital assets, but that does not mean they are owned or transferable like property.
In Canada, social media accounts fall under the broad category of digital assets because they exist online and hold personal data and content. However, most platforms treat these accounts as personal licences, not property that forms part of an estate. As a result, executors and family members usually do not gain full control after death.
How Major Social Media Platforms Handle Death
Here’s a list of how major social media platforms handle death:
Facebook & Instagram (Meta)
Facebook offers two options:
- Memorialize the account: The profile will display the word “Remembering” and shared content will stay visible. No one else will be able to log into the account, share posts on its behalf, or read direct messages.
- Delete it entirely: Messages, photos, posts, comments, reactions, and info will be immediately and permanently removed from Facebook. You need to choose this setting ahead of time from your profile’s Account Centre.
Facebook users can appoint a legacy contact to look after a memorialized profile. If you’re appointed as a legacy contact, you can accept friend requests, change the profile picture, and change the cover photo on behalf of the deceased. Without a legacy contact the profile cannot be changed once it’s memorialized.
Without prior approval in the Account Centre, a Facebook account can be deleted entirely by request. The following information is required:
One document to provide proof of authority, such as:
- Power of attorney
- Birth certificate (in cases where the deceased is a minor)
- Last will and testament
- Estate letter
One document to provide proof of death, such as:
- Obituary
- Memorial card
Instagram accounts can also be memorialized or deleted:
- Memorialization: The Instagram account is locked. The profile’s appearance does not change, but friends and loved ones will not see the profile suggested.
- Deletion: Immediate family members can submit a request to have the account permanently removed.
Like Facebook, Instagram requires proof of authority and proof of death to delete an account after death. Unlike Facebook, Instagram does not support legacy contacts. No one, including family or an executor, can access or log into an account after someone passes away.
X (Twitter)
X (formerly Twitter) accounts can be deactivated or deleted by a family member or executor. After the 30-day deactivation window passes, the account will be deleted. Requests to delete the account should include proof of the user’s death and proof of authority.
TikTok
TikTok does not currently have a public policy for what happens to an account after someone passes away. There is no option to memorialize the account, and TikTok does not provide a formal process for a loved one or executor to request access or deletion on someone else’s behalf.
The only way an account can be accessed after death is if someone already has the login credentials. This is where a password manager like 1Password can be helpful. By securely sharing access to your password manager with your executor, you give them the ability to log in to your TikTok account and delete it when the time comes. Without access to those credentials, the account cannot be deleted.
Planning ahead by securely storing and sharing your digital login information can help ensure your online accounts are handled according to your wishes, even when platforms don’t offer clear post-death policies.
LinkedIn offers two options: memorializing or closing the account after death. You can request either account memorialization or account closure, depending on what feels most appropriate.
When an account is memorialized, access to it is permanently locked. The profile remains visible as a way to honour the person’s professional legacy, but it can no longer be edited.
A memorialized account includes the following changes:
- A memorialized badge appears on the profile as a symbol of remembrance
- The account is removed from “People You May Know,” recommended connections, and other network features
- LinkedIn subscriptions are cancelled (with the exception of Apple subscriptions)
- Others can still view and engage with the content the member shared, but direct interaction with the profile is disabled
To request memorialization or account closure, you will need to provide proof of death and proof of authority.
You can gather the required information and documentation and contact LinkedIn directly to submit the request. LinkedIn will review the submission and take action based on the request provided.
If the account is closed, it may take up to 30 days for LinkedIn to fully delete the account data from its systems.
Google & YouTube
YouTube accounts are part of the larger Google Account system. Google’s Inactive Account Manager allows users to decide in advance:
- How long an account can be inactive
- Who should be notified
- Whether data should be shared or deleted
If no plan is in place, you can request account closure, but access is limited.
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What Can Family Members or Executors Do?
It can be tough to deal with social media accounts after a loved one passes. Without clear instructions in place, families and executors often face limited options.
Can an executor manage social media accounts?
An executor usually cannot manage social media accounts. Being named executor gives authority over estate assets. Social media accounts largely sit outside that framework.
If you’re responsible for managing someone’s digital legacy, you’ll likely need to contact each platform’s support team to request account deletion or memorialization—and that can mean delays, back-and-forth emails, or even denied requests. When wishes aren’t clearly stated, it can also lead to confusion or disagreements among family members about what should happen to the account.
Typical steps that must be taken include:
- Choosing between memorialization or deletion (if available)
- Collecting documentation, such as a death certificate, obituary, or proof of relationship
- Submitting requests to each platform independently
- Waiting for review and confirmation
The good news is that proactive planning can help families avoid confusion and ensure your wishes are honoured. Reviewing platform-specific policies, appointing legacy contacts, and communicating your wishes with loved ones in advance can reduce the burden on your executor and give you peace of mind.
Digital Assets, Privacy, and Canadian Estate Planning
Social media accounts are considered digital assets in Canada and make up part of your estate. However, unlike other assets, social media accounts are not transferable to a beneficiary. In Canada, privacy laws protect user data even after death, which is why your social media account cannot be managed like other assets.
While it may be tempting to do so, sharing passwords in your will is not recommended. If your estate goes through probate, your will becomes a public document. That means that any passwords or security logins in your will would be available to anyone who looked at the will.
Determining what you want to happen to your social media accounts after you die is part of estate planning. The best thing to do is to document your wishes and share them openly with your loved ones. Creating a list of all your social media accounts in your asset list and securely sharing your passwords in a password manager like 1Password gives your family or executor access to the information they need to manage your digital legacy.
How to Plan Ahead for Your Social Media Accounts
Planning ahead can ease stress and remove guesswork for your loved ones. Instead of leaving them unsure about what to do with your social media accounts, you can take a few simple steps now:
Helpful actions include:
- Setting up legacy or memorialization options on your accounts
- Leaving clear instructions about what you'd like done with your accounts
- Documenting your social media accounts in your asset list
- Storing passwords securely or using a password manager your executor can access
The most helpful step you can take is clearly documenting your digital wishes. It’s a simple action that can save your family time, stress, and uncertainty down the road.
Conclusion: Your Digital Life Is Part of Your Legacy
Social media is part of modern life, and part of modern estate planning. Understanding what happens to social media accounts after death can help you make informed, thoughtful decisions for yourself and your family.
By taking a few simple steps today, you can make sure your digital presence is handled the way you want. Adding digital planning to your estate plan protects your privacy, eases stress for loved ones, and helps preserve your legacy both online and off.
If you’re ready to get started building your digital asset list for your executor, sign up or login to your Willful account.
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