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Facebook’s new “legacy contact” feature will let you hand over account access should you suddenly pass away

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Facebook Android app 1

With so much of our lives spent online, you wouldn’t be overly cautious to start planning exactly what will happen to your internet life once you die. All those financial accounts, social networks, and email — like most things in life, they don’t automatically go with you in the event your life is tragically cut short.

Facebook Security Legacy Contact 1

A few months back, we told you guys exactly what you can do with your Google and/or Gmail account should you pass away or disappear, thanks to Google’s Inactive Account Manager. In that very same post, someone asked if Facebook had a similar feature and at the time, they didn’t. The closest thing Facebook offered was memorializing an account after death, locking out everyone and anyone from logging in. But starting today, Facebook announced a new feature heading to the social network allowing users to pick a special loved one or relative, dubbed a “legacy contact,” to manage their account should they die.

Facebook Legacy Contact 2

This person — who must have a Facebook account — would have access to accept friend requests, post updates, or change the profile picture of the recently deceased. Should you want your Facebook account promptly deleted upon death, Facebook now offers that option too.

Those that have been chosen as a legacy contact wont be notified until the account has been memorialized, something Facebook will only do with proper proof of someone’s passing (like an obituary). The option to add a legacy contact is rolling out first in the US and you can find it under your security settings right here.

Oh, and should you ever find yourself locked out of your account, you can also set a “Trusted Account” to help you gain back access to your Facebook account.

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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14 Comments

  1. When I die Facebook is that last friggin thing on my mind. Watch out I’m haunting every damn body. Ghost tea baggin all the fake ass people on there

    1. I just wish there was a few more options like Google offers. Don’t want my gf or mom going through my very private messages. Lol

  2. When I die just bury me, and hang my balls on a cherry tree.

  3. When I die I have nothing to hide because it won’t matter anymore. This will only be good for an ‘I died’ post, but someone can just tag me. Ridiculous for a social network IMO

    1. What if your folks or family needs money to help cover funeral arrangements?

      1. I’m sure that could be relevant for some people.

        Personally, I already have life insurance so that would cover it.

  4. I really don’t care what happens with my Facebook once I die. All my friends are able to visit my page isn’t that enough?

    1. It could be helpful for a relative to send out a status update announcing that you died and possible funeral arrangements (maybe even looking for funding for funeral costs if you didn’t have insurance).

      1. That’s not really necessary the majority of my family and friends are living pretty close to us. Funding is not necessarily either I can cover it with my own savings.

        1. It might not be necessary for you specifically, but there are millions of people who don’t have your exact circumstances/situation, and for some of them, it would probably be helpful. I don’t know how much I’d personally care about this either, but I’ve got family and friends all over the place, so I can certainly see the logic in this.

  5. Because Facebook is Soooooooo important to pass on to a relative. This is sick. I hope my relatives have better things to do than update or commandeer my Facebook page. Plus its not like Facebook is hard to get, all you need is an email address… lol

    1. When my father in law died my wife used his Facebook account to let all his friends know about the funeral information. Some of them would have had no idea he died had she not done so. So yes this is something important for relatives to have access to. Luckily she knew his password as this was a few years ago.

  6. I have plans on haunting the Internet forever when I expire.
    You will know it is me even if you don’t know me now, trust me. (Evil Laugh)

  7. Hmm just like when my mother passed, I let Facebook know so that every time I logged on I wouldn’t have to see her on my news feed, too painful. They never did get it done.

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