How to Memorialize or Close Social Media Accounts After Death

Social media accounts often contain years of memories, photos, and connections. When someone dies, families must decide what to do with these digital remnants. This guide explains how to memorialize or close accounts on major platforms, helping you preserve memories while protecting privacy.

Steps to Take: Facebook

Facebook offers two options: memorialization or permanent deletion.

Memorializing a Facebook Account

Memorialized accounts become a place for friends and family to gather and share memories.

What happens when an account is memorialized:

• "Remembering" appears next to the person's name on their profile
• The account stops appearing in public spaces (like birthday reminders)
• Content shared by the account remains visible to the audience it was shared with
• Depending on privacy settings, friends can post on the memorialized timeline

How to memorialize an account:

1. Go to facebook.com/help/contact/228813257197480
2. Complete the Memorialization Request form
3. Provide proof of death (obituary, death certificate)
4. Submit the request

Setting up a Legacy Contact (before death):

1. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Memorialization Settings
2. Type in a friend's name to designate as Legacy Contact
3. Choose whether they can download your data
4. The Legacy Contact can: Pin a post, respond to friend requests, update profile picture
5. They cannot: Log in as you, read messages, remove friends, make new posts

Permanently Deleting a Facebook Account

How to request deletion:

1. Go to facebook.com/help/contact/228813257197480
2. Select "Please remove this account"
3. Provide proof of death
4. Provide proof that you are an immediate family member or executor
5. Submit the request

Required documentation:

• Death certificate
• Proof of your authority (birth certificate showing relationship, will naming you executor)

Steps to Take: Instagram

Instagram, owned by Facebook, has similar options.

Memorializing an Instagram Account

What happens:

• "Remembering" appears next to the person's name
• Posts remain visible based on original privacy settings
• Account stops appearing in Explore sections

How to memorialize:

1. Go to help.instagram.com/contact/[IG_FORM_ID - search "Instagram deceased account" in help center]
2. Select "I want to report a deceased person's account"
3. Choose "I want to memorialize the account"
4. Provide the required information:
   • Deceased person's full name
   • Username
   • Date of death
   • Proof of death
5. Submit the request

Deleting an Instagram Account

How to request deletion:

1. Go to help.instagram.com/contact/[IG_FORM_ID - search "Instagram deceased account" in help center]
2. Select "I want to report a deceased person's account"
3. Choose "I want to delete the account"
4. Provide proof of death
5. Provide proof of your relationship/authority
6. Submit the request

Steps to Take: Twitter/X

Twitter/X does not offer memorialization, only account deletion.

Requesting Account Deletion

Process:

1. Go to help.twitter.com/forms/privacy-issue/privacy-issue
2. Select "I want to deactivate the account of a deceased family member"
3. Provide required information:
   • Your full name
   • Your relationship to the deceased
   • Deceased's full name
   • Deceased's Twitter handle
   • Date of death
   • Link to obituary or death certificate
4. Submit the request

Important notes:

• Twitter/X does not allow anyone to access the deceased's account
• Direct messages cannot be retrieved
• Tweets cannot be saved by family members through official channels

Steps to Take: LinkedIn

LinkedIn offers both memorialization and deletion options.

Memorializing a LinkedIn Profile

How to request:

1. Go to linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/ts-rdm
2. Complete the Memorialization Request form
3. Provide:
   • Deceased member's profile URL
   • Your relationship to the deceased
   • Date of death
   • Link to obituary or death certificate
4. Submit the request

Deleting a LinkedIn Account

How to request:

1. Go to linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/ts-rdm
2. Select "Remove profile of deceased member"
3. Provide required documentation
4. Submit the request

Steps to Take: Google (YouTube, Gmail, Photos)

Google offers an Inactive Account Manager that should be set up before death.

Setting Up Inactive Account Manager (Before Death)

1. Go to myaccount.google.com/inactive
2. Choose when Google should consider your account inactive (3, 6, 12, or 18 months)
3. Add trusted contacts who will be notified
4. Choose what data to share with them
5. Optionally, set up an auto-reply for emails

Managing a Deceased Person's Google Account

How to request:

1. Go to support.google.com/accounts/contact/acquired
2. Complete the form with:
   • Your information
   • Deceased person's information
   • Scanned copy of death certificate
   • Scanned copy of your ID
3. Submit the request

Important limitations:

• Google may provide content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos
• They will not provide passwords
• They may not provide all requested data
• Requests can take several months to process

Steps to Take: Apple (iCloud, Photos, Mail)

Apple offers a Digital Legacy program for account access after death.

Setting Up a Legacy Contact (Before Death)

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact
2. Choose one or more people (they must be 13+ and have an Apple device)
3. Apple generates an access key that you share with them
4. They can request access to your data after your death

What Legacy Contacts Can Access

• Photos
• Videos
• Documents
• Mail
• Contacts
• Calendars
• Messages (if backed up to iCloud)

They cannot access:

• Licensed media (movies, music, books)
• In-app purchases
• Payment information
• Keychain passwords

Requesting Account Access After Death

If no Legacy Contact was set up, you can submit a request:

1. Go to apple.com/legal/contact
2. Select "Request deceased person's data"
3. Provide:
   • Death certificate
   • Court order naming you as executor (if applicable)
   • Your identification
4. Submit the request

Steps to Take: Other Platforms

TikTok

TikTok allows verified immediate family members to request account deletion.

1. Go to tiktok.com/legal/report/deceased
2. Complete the form
3. Provide death certificate and proof of relationship

Pinterest

1. Contact Pinterest support through help.pinterest.com
2. Request account deletion
3. Provide death certificate and proof of authority

Snapchat

Snapchat does not currently offer memorialization or family access.

1. Submit a deletion request through support.snapchat.com
2. Provide death certificate
3. Note: Content cannot be retrieved

What We Wish We Had Known

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Timing Mistakes

• Deleting accounts before retrieving photos and memories
• Not allowing time for friends to save important content
• Rushing the decision without family input

Documentation Mistakes

• Not having required documents ready
• Submitting incomplete information
• Not keeping copies of what you submit

Communication Mistakes

• Not coordinating with other family members
• Changing accounts without notifying close friends
• Not considering the deceased's wishes

Privacy Mistakes

• Leaving accounts accessible without memorialization
• Not removing personal information from public view
• Forgetting about linked accounts (Instagram connected to Facebook, etc.)

Preserving Digital Memories

Before making changes, consider preserving content:

Download Options by Platform

Facebook:

• Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information
• Choose date range, format (HTML or JSON), and media quality

Google:

• Google Takeout (takeout.google.com)
• Select which services to download

Apple:

• iCloud.com allows downloading photos, documents, etc.
• Export contacts and calendars individually

Third-Party Tools

Several services can help archive social media:

• Archive.org (for public posts)
• Various social media backup tools
• Screenshots for important individual posts

Making the Decision: Memorialize or Delete?

Consider these factors:

Memorialize when:

• The deceased had a large community of friends
• People continue to post memories and tributes
• The account contains valuable shared content
• Family wants a digital gathering place

Delete when:

• The deceased valued privacy
• Content is sensitive or personal
• Family prefers complete closure
• There is risk of hacking or misuse

Legal Considerations

Digital Assets and the Law

• State laws vary regarding digital asset access
• The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) governs access in most states
• Your authority as executor may not automatically extend to digital accounts

Estate Planning Recommendations

Include in your estate planning:

• A list of digital accounts and how to access them
• Instructions for what should happen to each account
• Legacy contacts designated where possible
• Authorization for digital asset management in your will or trust

Sources

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Plan Ahead

The best time to plan for your digital legacy is now. Our Digital Access Plan Checklist helps you inventory accounts and document wishes.

• Digital Access Plan: Account Inventory Checklist
• Celebration of Life Book - Document your digital wishes for your family

Note: Platform policies change frequently. If you encounter issues with the processes described here, check the platform's current help documentation for the most up-to-date procedures.