Ever wondered what happens to someone’s Facebook account when they die? Quite weird to even ask, not going to lie. But you’d be intrigued to know that there’s a proper arrangement for the FB accounts of those who have deceased. Facebook has an independent regulatory body that keeps track of the decedent’s FB accounts and gives the legacy accounts credentials of their profile. So if you are here to know how to memorialise your Facebook account? Well, it’s a process. And we’ll break it down for you to understand it in the simplest form.
Memorialising Someone’s Facebook Account
Now there are three ways to memorialise someone’s Facebook account.
Depending on your relation with the deceased you can choose to opt for the method which suits you apt.
- The legacy contact method
- Memorialisation request
- Special request for a medically incapacitated or deceased person’s account
The legacy contact method
If your friend or acquaintance has passed away signing a legacy account, (that includes your name,) you will be able to memorialise their FB account when they die.
Legacy accounts can upload a pinned post at the top of the deceased account’s timeline, respond to friend requests, and update the person’s profile and cover photo. With due permission, they can even delete the deceased user’s FB account after they have passed away.
- To select your legacy contact, open Facebook and log into your account.
- In the top left of the screen, click the downward arrow icon to open the dropdown menu.
- Click settings & privacy, then settings.
- Under general settings, scroll down to view memorialisation settings.
- Read the overview before adding your legacy contact.
- Facebook will give you a choice to immediately send them a message about your choice. Click Send to send them the message, or click Not now if you prefer to keep it private. However, you will need to tell them eventually because they need to ask Facebook to grant them access to memorialise your account when you pass away.
- Once you sign up a legacy contact, you can further allow them to download a copy of your Facebook account under Data Archive Permission.
Memorialisation Request
Suppose your friend or acquaintance has passed away – without setting up a legacy contact. In that case, you will need to fill out this form to memorialise their FB account.
Memorialising the request through this method allows Facebook to secure the account. After the request is submitted, no one can actively care for the deceased user’s FB account.
Suppose the user had requested to have their account permanently deleted after they pass away. Under those circumstances, Facebook will remove their account once it verifies that the user has passed away.
In the form, you must provide the deceased user’s name, approximate date of death, and optional proof of death. (a link to an obituary.)
After Facebook memorialises the account, it will display “Remembering” in front of the person’s name. Furthermore, it won’t be shown in Facebook ads, “people you may know”, or send out reminders on their birthday. Memorialising the accounts through this method cannot be logged in to, which prevents the FB account from being hacked.
Special request for a medically incapacitated or deceased person’s account
If you are an immediate family member, you can request the account deletion instead of being memorialised. To do this, use Facebook’s special request for a medically incapacitated or deceased person’s account.
You will need to provide the deceased person’s full name, email ID, date of death, and the timeline URL.
In addition to this, you will also need to provide proof that you are an immediate family member. You can do this by submitting your birth certificate, death certificate, or proof of authority.
Conclusion
A blog you wouldn’t want to read otherwise. If you have experienced a loss that has potentially led you to this blog, we are sorry to hear it. Please accept our condolences.