Facebook and Death

[LuvsDragonflies]

I'm not sure if this has been asked before. When you die, if no one removes or deactivates your page, does it go on forever until Facebook itself "dies"? or is there a deactivation time setting?

Just one of the things that pops into my head. What do you wonder about randomly sometimes?

 

[Erin1700]

Not sure. I am friends with 2 people who passed away 2 years ago. Their page is still there and not taken over by someone.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Gives me a little bit of a start when I see a friend that passed come up on FB.

 

[dakcp2001]

My cousin passed away in 2009 and her account is still active. Every time it gives me a birthday reminder I cringe. She died at 32 when her gallbladder ruptured.

 

[Caropooh]

Gives me a little bit of a start when I see a friend that passed come up on FB.

The birthday reminders for people that have passed away creep me out. I deleted a couple deceased friends because of that.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I've heard that the family has to contact Facebook and provide proof of the person's death. Then it can either be taken down or changed to a memorial site maintained by the family.

 

[Jestocost]

Strange you should be asking. There were articles out this week on states that are looking into this issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS...counts-twitter-gmail-flickr/story?id=18401047

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have a couple people on my Facebook who have passed.

One of them, I still get occasional posts from (some of those automatic things) but it is a bit creepy to get a notice about that person has posted on my wall. Another one, the page is also still active, and we still occasionally post on her wall and stuff. I think it is somewhat comforting.

 

[DebbieB]

I had a coworker from the Orlando office who retired. Her e-mail address is in my address book. I kept seeing a friend suggestion for her husband on my page, I guess because he used the same e-mail address. The picture was of the 2 of them so I knew it was her. I looked at his page once, there was nothing current. She included me in an e-mail she sent out and I e-mailed her back asking how she was doing. Her husband died a couple of years ago!

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Strange you should be asking. There were articles out this week on states that are looking into this issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS...counts-twitter-gmail-flickr/story?id=18401047

Really? I'll have to check that out. It's a thought I've had a few times, just always filed it away for "later" lol.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I've heard that the family has to contact Facebook and provide proof of the person's death. Then it can either be taken down or changed to a memorial site maintained by the family.

When my DSIL died, my niece went in and figured out her mom's password, then deleted the account.

You know, if everyone had good password vaulting programs on their computers and their spouse or one loved one knew their log-in password. . .it would probably make things a lot easier for everyone.

I think DH and I are going to vault our passwords this weekend.

 

[maelstrom]

I have two deceased friends on my Facebook list. We write on their walls for their birthdays, Christmas, the day they passed, or whenever we're thinking of them. It's just really nice to have this visual, seeing that people haven't forgotten our friends who have passed on.

Dawn <3
Phyllis <3

 

[WDWBarb]

I think that a Facebook page (without bullying comments like mentioned in that article) can be a beautiful tribute to someone's life. If my family took mine down, I'd be disappointed (if I wasn't, you know... dead). I lost a friend several years ago and I sometimes look at his pictures or posts when I am missing him. His friends and family post updates about their lives on his page and we share memories of him there. I do think someone should be able to take control just in case someone says something insensitive, but I think it's quite comforting to leave it there.

 

[Acklander]

I have two deceased friends on my Facebook list. We write on their walls for their birthdays, Christmas, the day they passed, or whenever we're thinking of them. It's just really nice to have this visual, seeing that people haven't forgotten our friends who have passed on.

Dawn <3
Phyllis <3

Same here. When missing old friends I like to occasionally look at old photos and post that I was thinking of them. I see others do the same. I like it, and hope my page stays up after I die.

 

[Free4Life11]

https://www.facebook.com/help/search/?query=death

https://www.facebook.com/help/265593773453448

 

[RachaelA]

I have maybe 4 FB friends have that died? All pages still exisit and people write on their walls for holidays, birthdays, when something makes the person think of them. I think its a lovely. I like to look at my one friend's page when I get sad because it helps me remember what an amazing and fun loving woman she was.

I don't know if any of the family officially contacted FB though to have it memorialized.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I have a friend that died in 2007. Her facebook page is still active. I suspect that one of her sisters knew or figured out her password, but I honestly am not sure. At first it stunk to see her page, because she died at the age of 20, but now it's nice that it still exists. We can all still write messages to her on her birthday, the day she died, etc.

 

[kacaju]

I have no problem with fb pages being left open. I as well...sometimes will post a *thinking of you* on their wall. The problem I do have..is those people who either did not know the person well, or dont pay attention when you get the Birthday reminders.
And post things like Happy Birthday..I hope you have a great day!!

 

[RachaelA]

I have no problem with fb pages being left open. I as well...sometimes will post a *thinking of you* on their wall. The problem I do have..is those people who either did not know the person well, or dont pay attention when you get the Birthday reminders.
And post things like Happy Birthday..I hope you have a great day!!

yes! That happened like 3 times this past November on one of my high school friend's wall.

 

[mcraige]

I read somewhere that there is a new area of law regarding what happens to your digital "life" once your mortal life has ended. They were saying you need to add instructions in your will for how to handle social media.