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What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 7:56 am
by 0sman
Did you ever wonder what will become of our digital footprint after we die? Specially the ones that are important to us, like emails, FB, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn etc and any other online accounts? And very importantly, what about bank accounts for those who live far away from their families due to work/study etc and didn't give specific permission of who'll access their accounts in the event of their death?

Having different internet accounts/emails over the years (though most of them aren't that important to be honest) and being member of many different forums, every now and then I wonder what happened to such and such member that I came to know on certain site and didn't hear/read from so many years? Are they still alive?

Just imagine, if you have been a member of a forum(s) for several years, there's a big chance that at least a person (or persons) you met on that forum passed away while we still assume they're still alive and kicking. Am I the only one who sometimes gets such weird thoughts?

I was browsing the net a little while ago and came across this article that reminded me of this:
What happens to your digital life after you die? It’s a question not many consider given how embedded the internet is in their lives. The typical web user has 25 online accounts, ranging from email to social media profiles and bank accounts, according to a 2007 study from Microsoft. But families, companies and legislators are just starting to sort out who owns and has access to these accounts after someone has died.

The issue came up recently in Virginia, when a couple, seeking answers after their son’s suicide, realized they couldn’t access his Facebook account. Now Virginia is one of a growing number of states that have passed laws governing the digital accounts of the deceased. Meanwhile, technology companies are forming their own policies regarding deceased users. While still in the early stages, the laws and policies taking shape so far indicate that designating one’s “digital assets” may soon become a critical part of estate planning.

The implications are widespread, considering that today nearly all American adults are online and 72% of them, along with 81% of teenagers, use social media sites. In the digital world, posting photos, drafting emails or making purchases are activities that don’t solely belong to users. They belong, in part, to companies like Facebook and Google that store information on their servers. In order to access these convenient online tools, users enter into agreements when they click on — but often don’t read — terms-of-service agreements.

Policies surrounding death vary among some of the internet’s most prominent companies:

- Twitter will deactivate an account upon the request of an estate executor or a verified immediate family member once a copy of a death certificate and other pertinent information is provided.
- Facebook has two options. First, the site enables profiles to be turned into memorials. The account is locked, but other users can still interact with the deceased’s profile by posting comments, photos and links. The other option is to remove the account, upon special request by an immediate family member or executor.
- Google has recently established a new feature called “inactive account manager,” which prompts users to decide the fate of their accounts should they die. If the account user does not make a selection, Google’s policies are pretty strict. It warns survivors that obtaining access to a deceased person’s email account will be possible only “in rare cases.”

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/20 ... ter-death/

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:06 am
by djibsomali
Pertinent question!

edit (self censored) young somali girl died (somewhere).

I was deep cleaning my flat and found a train ticket fine on her name (shocked)!
her facebook page is still active (and no one knows her passwords)

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:18 am
by 0sman
Damn! That's sad. It's scenarios like that that keep me wonder every now and then while I am on the forums and read some 5, 6 or more year old threads. I just wonder if any of the members that replied to that topic have kicked the bucket.

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:47 pm
by eliteSomali
Heard of a dude who had porn subscriptions and he died. last I checked, he was still getting monthly newsletters.

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:37 am
by 0sman
^ I remember couple of years ago while browsing Youtube I came across a muxaadaro (by a Saudi cleric, I think) who was telling similar story. Did you hear the same one or you're talking about someone you know, Elite? If it actually happened it must have been in late 90's or early 2000's as no one pays for porn these days.

PS: If it was payed subscription then it stops if the producer/distributor doesn't get paid so it aint a big deal though.

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:41 am
by SecretAgent
Most of the time banks take the money unless you had a will.

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:42 am
by Somali-Transporter
This guy is obessed with God then claims to be athiest or whatever..

Why all this obession over something you don't believe! God this God that, God God God...

Stop the contradictions you are madly angry with god over something that has happened to you.. just be a man and confess it to us..

Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 3:13 am
by 0sman
I challenge you; just quote one 'God' word I've written in this thread, you dhoos fowqal dhoos. It seems your faith is so shaken you keep imagining and seeing things everywhere.

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Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 3:19 am
by 0sman
SecretAgent wrote:Most of the time banks take the money unless you had a will.
That's one of the things that worry me sometimes. I have over 85 grand in my savings account and over 23 grand in my pension account (which I wont be able to access for another 30+ years, I mean the pension one) and I didn't nominate anyone from my family as inheritor when I pass away as we live all over the world and I am too lazy to write all that paper work and contact with the relevant offices if shit hits the fan.

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Re: What happens to our digital life after death?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 3:47 am
by vikingman
Wrong topic