{"id":1620,"date":"2020-02-25T12:31:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T01:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gpadviser.com.au\/gpl-theme-1-2015\/2020\/02\/25\/manage-your-digital-afterlife\/"},"modified":"2020-02-25T12:31:00","modified_gmt":"2020-02-25T01:31:00","slug":"manage-your-digital-afterlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gpadviser.com.au\/gpl-theme-1-2015\/2020\/02\/25\/manage-your-digital-afterlife\/","title":{"rendered":"Manage your digital afterlife"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever thought about the fact that your \u2018digital estate\u2019 may incorporate just as many items as your material belongings? Everything from music, photos, accounts, social media profiles and attempted memoirs rest on the cloud. That\u2019s a lot of personal stuff to manage upon one\u2019s death, much like a house full of cherished possessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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These days, there\u2019s just as much need for a \u2018digital executor\u2019 as there is for one in a traditional sense. Here’s a look at how to manage your digital afterlife.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Consider your wishes<\/h3>\n

First thing\u2019s first, what do you want to happen with your accounts when you die? Much the same as your Will, deciding on this beforehand saves your family and friends from any doubt about your wishes. For example, do you want your social media accounts deleted or continued, perhaps for business or memorial purposes?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Have a think about all your accounts, what they contain, and the best course of action for either continuing them or shutting them down. This way, you can leave instructions as to how you\u2019d like them managed. As an added bonus of being prepared, this is a great way to clean up your \u2018digital estate\u2019 now, as it\u2019s easy to forget just how many unused or ineffective accounts we have!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Give someone your passwords<\/h3>\n

If there\u2019s someone you absolutely trust, giving your login details to them is by far the easiest method of ensuring your wishes are carried out, whether that\u2019s to keep or delete accounts. This is particularly true for social media sites, as even family members aren\u2019t given access to passwords.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This makes it easy for someone to delete your accounts, update them and keep an eye on them in case of spam or hackers. Don\u2019t want to give anyone your passwords right now? Research password management services that let you appoint a nominee who\u2019ll gain access to your passwords upon request, in the case of death or incapacity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Research the options for different social media platforms<\/h3>\n

Depending on the social media platforms you use, different rules apply to account deactivation and their ongoing use. First of all, make sure family or friends know which accounts you have and what you\u2019d like done with them. One of the most popular options is to have an account memorialised, so the content remains visible to those it was shared with in the first place.<\/p>\n

When you nominate a legacy contact on Facebook, through the Settings and Security tabs, that person can respond to friend requests and add posts to your profile. You can change the nominated legacy contact at any time. It\u2019s possible to memorialise Instagram accounts, however, they can\u2019t be changed. Twitter allows for deactivation, but no one will be able to gain access to the account unless you\u2019ve given them your login details.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Make a detailed list of your digital accounts and devices<\/h3>\n

Along with social media, and presuming financial and insurance accounts will be in the hands of a power of attorney, you could have accounts including:<\/p>\n