February 12, 2015
@HuffPostTech/Twitter
Facebook is now giving users the power to choose the fate of their profiles when they die.
In a time when so much of our lives is shared on the Internet, it's hard not to wonder what happens to all of that information when we pass on.
Facebook is now giving users the power to choose the fate of their profiles when they die.
The social network rolled out an update Thursday that allows users to have more control of their personal information and ultimately, their digital legacy.
Users can appoint a "legacy contact," who basically serves as a digital executor. The legacy contact is granted special access to the account upon the user's death.
He or she may download a copy of what's been shared on the profile, including photos and wall posts, as well as post a note that will remain pinned to the top of the profile page. But the legacy contact does not have access to private messages.
A legacy contact can only be assigned if the account is memorialized. The Facebook Help Center describes memorialized accounts as "a place for friends and family to gather and share memories after a person has passed away."
Memorialized accounts feature the word "remembering" next to the person's name on their profile and do not appear in public spaces. Depending on the privacy settings of the account, friends can share memories on the memorialized Timeline.
There is also an option to have the account deleted entirely.
The update is currently only available in the United States.
