In a world where our lives are increasingly digitized, the recent announcement by Google to delete accounts inactive for over two years, starting December 1st of 2023 might cause a moment of stress. Photos, documents, videos that you just stashed back in college when your username was ‘EmoSceneKid2002’ suddenly might vanish and while we might not care about our first vlogging attempt on that old YouTube account, that last video of Christmas with Grandma is something pretty precious, so log in and save those special things.
But there is the other side of this, what happens when we aren’t there to log in anymore? We humans are fantastic at putting off any task that makes us confront the reality of our inescapable demise, but this should serve as a wake-up call to address a frequently overlooked aspect of our digital lives: What happens to our online assets after we’re gone?
My father loved gaming, he especially loved World of Warcraft. He was that 70 something guy waiting in line to pick up the collector’s edition the day it went on sale, he farmed gold, mined, fished, and played the auction house like none other. A few weeks after he passed away my son logged into his account, messaged a few game friends about dad’s passing, collected all the in-game mail, and shared the wealth with our friends and guildmates. My son was the digital executor of the character’s estate. Not the most pressing of examples, but a relevant one.
Imagine losing access to important email exchanges, contracts, cherished family photos stored in the cloud, or even digital financial records. This is the stark reality if we neglect our digital assets. Beyond the emotional loss, there’s a practical one: these assets often contain critical information that our loved ones might need, or they may be assets in and of themselves such as cryptocurrency.
On the darker side, social media accounts can be used or copied to scam acquaintances or estranged family who aren’t aware of our loved one’s passing or even complete strangers. Identity theft is something we are usually on the lookout for, but are we as mindful when it comes to a deceased family member? How do we keep our identity protected when we are no longer here?
Digital assets are not just our social media profiles. They encompass everything from email accounts to online banking information, cloud storage, digital wallets, and even personal websites or blogs. They hold immense emotional and financial value, often forming a significant part of our legacy.
To protect these assets, we start by creating a comprehensive list of all our digital assets. This includes usernames, passwords, and important files. Use secure methods to store this information and ensure it’s accessible to someone trustworthy in the event of our demise. It can be as simple as a notebook where we keep the information and keep it up to date. Select someone who is tech-savvy and trustworthy to manage our digital footprint after we pass away. We should clearly communicate our wishes to them, ensuring they understand the scope of their responsibilities.
Navigating the legal landscape of digital assets post-mortem is tricky and there are some legal considerations. Many online platforms have their own policies, often at odds with traditional estate laws. Including digital assets in a will and appointing a digital executor can help bridge this gap.
Several online tools can help in managing your digital afterlife. Google, Facebook and Instagram have policies and programs for dealing with members who have died. When signing up for a password protector or really any service online we should pay attention to what the EUA states happens on a user’s death.
As morbid as it is we need to take the time to ensure that our digital last wishes are managed and that we don’t make things more complicated than necessary for those we leave behind.
Maintaining a digital estate plan is an ongoing process. Regularly updating inventory, passwords, and the instruction for a digital executor ensures our digital legacy is managed according to our wishes. The steps to secure our digital legacies are simple yet vital. In an era where tech companies can lock or delete inactive accounts, proactive management of digital assets is not just prudent—it’s necessary.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Begin your digital estate planning today, share this guide with others, and consider seeking professional advice to ensure your digital legacy is preserved exactly as you wish.