Social media accounts don't disappear when their owner dies — they continue to exist, and the way they're handled can have a significant emotional impact on family and friends. Each major platform has its own policies, and understanding them in advance helps you make intentional decisions about what should happen to your online presence.
Facebook and Instagram
Facebook offers the most developed set of post-death options. You can:
- Memorialize the account: The profile displays "Remembering" next to the person's name. Friends can still post on the timeline. No one can log in. The account remains searchable and visible to friends.
- Designate a Legacy Contact: A Legacy Contact can manage your memorialized profile — accepting friend requests, posting a pinned message, and (optionally) downloading a copy of your Facebook data. See our guide to setting up Facebook memorialization settings.
- Request account deletion: If you want your account deleted after death, you can indicate this in your settings now, and your Legacy Contact can request it on your behalf.
Instagram follows similar policies to Facebook (both are Meta platforms). Accounts can be memorialized or deleted upon request by a verified family member.
Google (YouTube, Gmail, Google Photos)
Google's approach uses its Inactive Account Manager, which lets you designate trusted contacts who will be notified and given access to your data if your account becomes inactive. You can specify which data to share and with whom, and choose whether your account should eventually be deleted.
Apple
Apple's Legacy Contact feature allows a designated person to access your iCloud data — photos, messages, backups — after your death with an access key. This was introduced in 2021 and is available on iOS 15.2 and later.
Twitter / X
Twitter/X allows authorized family members to deactivate and remove a deceased person's account. There is no "memorialization" option. Family must contact Twitter support with a death certificate. Accounts cannot be transferred to another person.
LinkedIn allows family and colleagues to report a deceased member's profile, which will then be removed. The process requires contacting LinkedIn directly. There is no memorialization feature.
TikTok
TikTok allows family members to report a deceased user's account. Policy is to remove the account upon verified request. No memorialization option exists.
Snapchat
Snapchat will delete a deceased user's account upon verified request by a family member or authorized representative. Accounts cannot be transferred or memorialized.
Pinterest, Reddit, and Other Platforms
Most platforms allow family to request deletion of a deceased member's account with appropriate documentation (death certificate, proof of relationship). Few offer memorialization options beyond Facebook.
What to Do Now
The most impactful steps you can take today:
- Set up a Facebook Legacy Contact and choose your memorialization preference
- Configure Google's Inactive Account Manager
- Set up an Apple Legacy Contact
- Include your social media preferences in your digital assets inventory
- Tell your family or executor which accounts exist and what you'd like done with them
For the complete picture of digital legacy planning, see our complete guide to managing your digital legacy.