Who Will Manage Your Facebook Account After You Die?
Social media has become a permanent part of our lives—and now, even our legacies. Facebook’s Legacy Contact feature gives users control over what happens to their accounts after they pass away, offering peace of mind to both users and their loved ones.
What Is a Legacy Contact?
A legacy contact is a person you designate to manage parts of your Facebook account after your death. Once Facebook is notified and verifies that you’ve passed away, your account becomes memorialized. This means it remains visible to friends and family but no longer appears in public spaces like friend suggestions or ads.
Your legacy contact will then have limited administrative access to your page. They can:
- Pin a final post or tribute at the top of your page.
- Update your profile and cover photos.
- Respond to new friend requests.
- Download an archive of your photos, posts, and profile information (if you allow it).
They will not be able to log in as you, read private messages, or change major settings such as privacy or login credentials.
Memorialized Accounts and the “Remembering” Label
To make memorialized accounts more recognizable, Facebook places a “Remembering” label before the person’s name. This helps users distinguish memorialized profiles and gives friends and family a dedicated place to share memories, condolences, or updates related to memorial services.
How to Set a Legacy Contact or Delete Your Account
To set up a legacy contact:
- Go to your Facebook Settings.
- Select Personal Information and Account Ownership.
- Choose Memorialization Settings.
- Add your chosen contact and decide whether they’ll have permission to download your data.
Alternatively, you can choose to have your account permanently deleted after your death instead of being memorialized.
Why It Matters
Planning your digital legacy ensures your loved ones aren’t left managing a complicated process during a difficult time. With Facebook’s legacy contact feature, you decide how your digital life is handled, keeping your memory and privacy protected according to your wishes.
