The importance of managing your digital legacy has come to the forefront with the expansive growth of the internet. Digital legacy refers to the digital information that is left behind when a person passes away, such as social media accounts, emails, photos, blogs, and other digital files stored online or on digital devices. Individuals must now consider this digital legacy alongside their physical assets when preparing for the unthinkable: their death.
As our lives become inexorably interwoven with the digital world, decisions about what happens to our digital assets after we die have become increasingly crucial. A single person’s digital footprints are vast, often more complex than their real-world estates, given the breadth of online accounts, files, and digital property that exist in their name.
Being proactive about managing this digital legacy is key. It’s also essential to remember that each digital service provider may have its own unique policy on how to handle accounts and data of deceased users; therefore, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
This article focuses on seven primary steps you should take to help manage your own digital legacy effectively.
Identify Your Digital Assets
The initial step in preparing for the unthinkable is to take an inventory of your digital assets. These encompass everything from your files stored on your hard drive to your accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Gmail, online banking, shopping sites, and everything else in between. Document everything as comprehensibly as possible.
Remember to also include critical details such as usernames, email addresses used for registration, answers to security questions, and other unique identification details.
Understand Policies of Different Offline/Online Platforms
Equally essential is the comprehension of how different platforms manage user accounts after death. For instance, Facebook allows users to memorialize an account or set a legacy contact who can manage the account if they pass away. Google has an inactive account manager feature that prompts users to decide the fate of their data after a specified period of inactivity.
In the case of email providers, policies may differ. Apple deletes an iCloud account upon receiving death certification, while Yahoo does not allow account transfer and deletes all contents upon notification.
Understanding these policies will harness you with the knowledge of what should be anticipated from these platforms regarding your digital assets.
Designate a Digital Executor
With your digital assets identified and details comprehensively documented, it’s vital to designate a trusted person – a digital executor – to manage them in line with your wishes.
The digital executor’s role typically involves closing email accounts, social media profiles, shutting down websites, withdrawing from online financial accounts, etc. It is crucial that this person is tech-savvy enough to manage these tasks efficiently.
Specify Your Wishes
Detail how you want each of your digital assets handled. Do you want your social media profiles deleted or converted into memorial pages? Should your digital photos be distributed among relatives or donated to an archive? Should your emails be deleted unopened, or do you want someone to review them for critical information? All these are personal decisions that should be clearly specified.
Secure Your Digital Assets
Just as we protect our physical possessions, the importance of securing your digital assets and personal data cannot be overstated. Besides ensuring your data is backed up regularly, it’s worth considering the adoption of encryption for sensitive data, ensuring your antivirus software is always updated and steering clear of dubious websites that may compromise your computer.
Remember Your Digital Liabilities
The mention of digital legacies often conjures images of assets and not liabilities. However, many people carry digital liabilities with potential consequences for their loved ones. Subscription services that utilise auto-renewals should be listed in your catalog of digital assets and, ultimately, canceled to avoid unnecessary costs being left behind.
Use a Digital Legacy Service
As the importance of managing one’s digital legacy becomes more recognized, a handful of services have sprung up to facilitate this process. Companies like Everplans, DigiLocker, and SafeBeyond offer comprehensive digital afterlife services, from storing passwords to sending out goodbye messages. You may find these services incredibly helpful in managing your growing digital presence.
Planning your digital legacy should occur in tandem with your design of the physical one. The digital world continues to grow, mirroring the physical world in complexity. By taking the steps highlighted above, you will be in a better position to ensure your digital legacy is managed as smoothly and effectively as possible.
However, this is just a general guide – remember to consult with a professional advisor about your personal situation since laws regarding digital estate management can vary significantly based on jurisdiction.
In essence, managing our digital legacy is a relatively new frontier, and legal systems worldwide scramble to accommodate this paradigm shift. However, with proper planning and care, your digital legacy can be effectively handled, ensuring you leave a clean digital slate and your loved ones aren’t saddled with digital chaos and confusion.
