Dear friends,
Social media platforms have become central repositories of our digital lives, containing conversations, connections, and memories that often matter deeply to those we leave behind. Yet these platforms were built for the living, not the dead, creating unique challenges for digital legacy planning.
When someone passes away, their social media accounts often become unexpected memorials. Friends and family gather in comment threads, share memories, and process grief through the very platform where they once shared everyday moments. Understanding how to prepare for this transition is essential.
The primary challenges families face include legacy contact has limited permissions (cannot read messages or remove friends), memorial accounts cannot be logged into by anyone, and business pages require separate ownership transfer planning. These technical barriers often prevent loved ones from accessing important information, preserving memories, or even closing accounts when desired.
DeathNote helps you navigate these complexities by providing secure credential storage, clear instructions for account access, and guidance on platform-specific policies. You can document your preferences for account management, designate trusted contacts, and ensure your digital legacy reflects your intentions rather than platform defaults.
Beyond technical access, consider what messages or information you'd want shared through these platforms. Many people use social media to announce deaths and share memorial details, making it essential to have clear guidance for those managing your accounts posthumously.
Platform Overview
Primary Use
Social networking, family connections, groups, events, business pages, marketplace
Account Types
Personal profiles, business pages, group admin roles, marketplace seller accounts
Data Types
Posts, photos, videos, messages, timeline content, friend connections, group memberships, page content
Access Challenges
- Legacy contact has limited permissions (cannot read messages or remove friends)
- Memorial accounts cannot be logged into by anyone
- Business pages require separate ownership transfer planning
- Downloaded data exports are only available while account is active
- Group admin roles cannot be transferred after memorialization
Inheritance Guidance
Step 1: Designate a Facebook Legacy Contact
Go to Settings > Memorialization Settings and designate a legacy contact. This person can manage memorial requests, write a pinned tribute post, and update your profile picture. However, they cannot access your messages or remove friends. Choose someone trustworthy who understands your wishes.
Step 2: Decide Between Memorialization and Deletion
Choose whether you want your account memorialized (preserved as a tribute page) or permanently deleted upon death. Memorialize to preserve memories for family and friends, or delete for complete privacy. Document this decision clearly in your DeathNote and inform your legacy contact.
Step 3: Download Your Facebook Archive
Go to Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information to export all your posts, photos, messages, and profile data. Save this archive securely and provide access instructions in your DeathNote. Update the archive periodically for current content.
Step 4: Transfer Business Page Ownership
For Facebook Pages you manage, add additional admins while you're alive. Go to Page Settings > Page Roles and promote trusted individuals to admin status. Document which pages are important and who should take over. Legacy contacts cannot manage pages.
Step 5: Document Group and Event Management
List all Facebook groups you admin and events you manage. Designate successors and add them as co-admins now. After memorialization, you cannot transfer these roles. Include group purposes and management guidelines in your DeathNote.
Related Resources
Instagram Account Handoff
Meta platform photo sharing legacy planning
Facebook Messenger Legacy
Message template for Facebook connections and friends
How DeathNote Works
Learn about memorial coordination and legacy contact management
LinkedIn Profile Posthumous
Professional networking platform legacy planning
Digital Photo Archive Inheritance
Photo and memory preservation across platforms
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a Facebook legacy contact actually do?
Your Facebook legacy contact can write a pinned tribute post on your memorialized profile, respond to new friend requests, update your profile and cover photos, and manage memorial settings. However, they cannot log into your account, read your messages, remove existing friends, or delete your posts. For fuller access, provide login credentials through DeathNote.
Can family read my Facebook messages after I die?
No. Once your account is memorialized, Facebook messages become completely inaccessible, even to your legacy contact. If you want family to access your message history, download your Facebook archive while alive or provide login credentials through DeathNote before memorialization occurs.
What happens to Facebook Pages and Groups I manage after I die?
Facebook Pages and Groups you manage will become unmanageable unless you've added additional admins beforehand. Legacy contacts cannot access business pages or groups. Add co-admins to all important pages and groups while you're alive, and document who should take over in your DeathNote.
Should I choose memorialization or account deletion?
Choose memorialization if you want your profile to remain as a tribute page where friends and family can share memories. Choose deletion if you prioritize complete privacy and want no trace of your account to remain. Consider your family's need to grieve and remember versus your own privacy preferences.