Death is never one of my favorite topics so it was with tepid interest I read an email concerning death and social media from none other than your US government. Seems they say we all need a component of our wills that stipulates how our cyber memory will be handled once we die. I cannot disagree but the idea somehow gives me the willies.

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USA.gov writes: What happens to the online content that you created once you die? If you are active online you should consider creating a statement of how you would like your online identity to be handled, like a social media will that include the following actions:

Appoint someone you trust as an online executor. This person will be responsible for the closure of your email addresses, social media profiles, and blogs after you are deceased.

Review the privacy policies and the terms and conditions of each website where you have a presence.

State how you would like your profiles to be handled. You may want to completely cancel your profile or keep it up for friends and family to visit. Some sites allow users to create a memorial profile where other users can still see your profile but can't post anything new.

Give the social media executor a document that lists all the websites where you have a profile, along with your usernames and passwords.

Stipulate in your will that the online executor should have a copy of your death certificate. The online executor may need this as proof in order for websites to take any actions on your behalf.

Sounds like a good idea, what do you think?

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