User:JACS95/sandbox

Social media users may or may not know what happens to one's social media account(s) when one has died. This is a topic that is not discussed often, however, it is important that one knows one's options if one's loved ones have died. Social media is prevalent in today's society. There are many users on social media. There are many people that use social media for one's personal gain. There are also many people that use social media as a way to professionally network.

It is important to note that each social media platform has created different guidelines for people whom have died. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest all have different guidelines when it comes to deleting and/or deactivating someone's social media account(s) once someone has died. It is important to examine one's options on social media once someone has died.

For Twitter, if the user has died, the company will work with an immediate family member to deactivate the account. Additionally, Twitter will not give the account to any person(s), regardless of the relationship.

For Facebook, the company added a new setting last year that gives users the option of having their account permanently deleted when one dies. There is also an option for 'legacy contact' which means that the Facebook user can have a family and/or friend take over the account once the person has died. The 'legacy contact' option is under the security tab at the bottom of the page.

For Instagram, there are two options for people who have died. Similarly to Facebook, the user can have the account memorialized with proof of death. To find out more on how one can memorialize one's Instagram account. The other option for Instagram is to have the account deleted once the person has died. One can request that an account be removed from Instagram if one has proof of the death and/or proof of the relationship with the person who has died.

For LinkedIn, a family member can request that the account be shut down. There is a list of steps that one must follow to have one's account shut down. The list of steps includes the URL to the account, proof of relationship, one's email address, date of death, a link to one's obituary and the name of the last company the deceased worked for. To learn more about the steps one must take to get an account shut down.

For Pinterest, to delete the account of someone who has died, one must email the company with the URL to one's account. One must also provide a death certificate and/or provide a link to one's obituary as well as proof of relationship to the deceased.

Furthermore, it is important to note that there are options when it comes to deleting and/or deactivating social media accounts once someone has died. Ultimately, it is up to the person who has created the accounts to decide what one wants to do with one's social media account once one has died.