Millions of Facebook and Twitter fans are being urged to leave instructions to update their social media status…from beyond the grave. Experts fear that as people have an increasing online presence, their loved ones will face a minefield when it comes to unravelling their digital world when they pass to the great internet cafe in the sky.
As well as social media profiles, many people store a wealth of sensitive personal information on websites and email accounts which could go unchecked on someone's death, said SagaLegal.co.uk. The new guide will highlight the main problems people face if your virtual afterlife is not prepared for and also explains how to ensure that a person's digital legacy lives on in the way they wish. It covers everything from social media accounts to online logins for sites such as Amazon, Google, professional directories, supermarket voucher schemes and music/film sites.
SagaLegal.co.uk said the internet has made life easier in a variety of ways, from paying bills to shopping, to reconnecting with old friends at the click of a button. However, the firm said it is important that people consider what will happen to their digital existence when they pass away.
Emma Myers, Head of Wills, Probate and Lifetime Planning at SagaLegal.co.uk said: "Being a relatively new invention, there are not yet any substantial legal procedures in place to protect your online presence and even less still when you die. In the same way you would not want your loved ones falling out or being inconvenienced over a missing Will when you die, it's also imperative to plan ahead for the great internet cafe in the sky."
People with a significant online presence could find friends and family receiving sombre and unnecessary reminders of a recent death, for example, via poorly-timed social media birthday notifications.
More importantly, unplanned digital legacies could pose potentially harmful security issues. Any digital legacy should contain a financial element, as direct debits will continue to leave a bank account until it is frozen by the provision of a death certificate. To address this, SagaLegal.co.uk is advising the public to compile a secure “online directory”, detailing all active internet accounts along with requests for how each should be dealt with.
Myers continues: "Given how new an invention the internet is, it’s perhaps not surprising that many people are not yet familiar with the idea of a digital legacy.
"Yet as we continue to live more and more of our lives online, it’s become increasingly important to start planning for our virtual afterlife when we pass away.
"Accounts registered with everything from social media pages, email providers, online retailers and online banking contain sensitive information that should be removed. This is especially true where banking information is involved.”
“With the internet still being somewhat of a legal grey area, we understand the importance of consumers being aware of the risks – emotional, practical and financial – of not properly setting your online affairs in order.
"The SagaLegal.co.uk Guide to Preserving your Digital Legacy is designed to give you the practical information and advice needed to ensure that no unwanted ghosts are left in the machine.”