A Gentle Guide from Kim Peran, Senior Home Coach™ & Realtor®

When we lose someone we love, our first thoughts are rarely about Facebook passwords or photo albums on Instagram. Yet today, our online lives hold an incredible amount of personal history — memories, photos, and messages that live on long after we're gone.

As a Senior Home Coach™, I often help families navigate life's transitions — from selling a loved one's home to handling personal belongings. But increasingly, I also hear questions about what to do with someone's digital legacy. Here's how to approach this sensitive task with care and confidence.

Step 1: Pause and Give Yourself Grace

Grieving takes time. Don't feel pressured to make immediate changes to your loved one's online accounts. Take a breath, gather your thoughts, and consider what they would have wanted — whether to preserve memories online or quietly close their accounts.

Step 2: Collect Key Information

Before contacting social media platforms, try to locate:

• Login details or a password manager

• Proof of your relationship to the person

• A copy of their death certificate

If your loved one had a will or estate plan, check whether they named a digital executor — someone responsible for managing online accounts.

Tip: Many estate planners now include digital assets in their planning. If you're creating or updating your own will, this is a valuable step to consider.

Step 3: Understand Platform Options

Each major platform offers its own way to handle a deceased person's account:

• Facebook: Can be memorialized (showing "Remembering [Name]") or permanently deleted. Users can assign a Legacy Contact in advance.

• Instagram: Allows memorialization or removal upon family request.

• Google (Gmail, YouTube, Photos): Has an Inactive Account Manager feature that lets you pre-select what happens if your account goes unused.

• Apple/iCloud: Provides access for a designated Legacy Contact if one was set up.

• LinkedIn: Family or authorized representatives can request profile removal.

• X (Twitter): Family members or executors can request deactivation.

Step 4: Decide How to Honor Their Memory

Some families choose to post a heartfelt message or create a memorial page to celebrate their loved one's life. These spaces can be comforting and bring people together — especially for those who can't attend in-person services.

If you go this route, remember to adjust privacy settings and monitor activity to keep the space respectful.

Step 5: Secure and Protect Their Privacy

To prevent misuse or hacking, close accounts that are no longer needed and change passwords for those you intend to keep temporarily. Protecting a loved one's identity online is just as important as safeguarding their financial accounts.

Step 6: Save and Share Precious Memories

Before closing anything, download photos, videos, and messages that hold sentimental value. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google offer tools to export content so it can be safely stored or shared with family.

A Thoughtful Takeaway

Our social media pages tell a story — often one of joy, family, and connection. Taking steps to manage a loved one's digital accounts is a modern act of care and respect.

And as you reflect on this, consider your own digital legacy: make notes of your wishes, designate trusted contacts, and include your online life in your estate planning. It's one more way to make things easier for those you love.

Written by:
Kim Peran, Realtor® & Senior Home Coach™
Serving Volusia and Flagler Counties with compassion and expertise.
Helping seniors and families navigate home transitions — and every chapter that comes with them.