When You Die, Here’s What Happens… On Facebook

Facebook’s now let’s you pick a page manager to keep your page up when you die. Your ‘Legacy Contact’ can:

1. Write a post to pin to the top of the memorialized Timeline (Maybe to announce a memorial service or post an appropriate  message).

2. They can respond to awkwardly timed new friend requests from family members and friends who had not yet connected on Facebook.

3. Your appointed manager can update the profile picture and cover photo.

Your legacy contact cannot post on your behalf, start ‘Liking’ random things or, and this could be important, see your private messages. But they will be able to download your Facebook archive, which includes all of your photos. They will also be able to post a note that will stay pinned to the top of your profile page.

The one you name as your legacy contact will not be alerted to your decision until you've passed away. If a user has not chosen a legacy contact but has named a “digital heir” in their will, then Facebook will designate that person as the legacy contact.

If you want your profile deleted, the company will honor that request and remove your photos, Timeline, and past likes and comments. Previously, Facebook would just freeze an account.

This new protocol highlights the growing concern over what becomes of our digital legacies as a new generation. Now, what about your iTunes library, what will happen to that rather costly library you've built up?