What Happens to Your Digital Footprint When You Die?
Feb 18, 2025
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Elaine Kasket, a psychologist and author of "All The Ghosts in the Machine," delves into the digital afterlife of personal data. She discusses the growing number of deceased individuals with active online accounts and the challenges this poses for loved ones. Kasket emphasizes the need for proactive planning to manage digital legacies, exploring the ethical implications of AI replicas and digital memorials. She offers insights on setting up legacy contacts for major platforms, ensuring your online presence is handled according to your wishes after you're gone.
Understanding the concept of digital remains is essential, as many individuals unknowingly leave behind extensive online profiles after death.
Establishing a digital will and designating legacy contacts can significantly ease the management of one's online accounts for loved ones.
Deep dives
Understanding Digital Remains
The concept of digital remains refers to the vast amount of personal data individuals leave behind after their death, which can include social media profiles, emails, health data, and more. This growing digital footprint poses a challenge, as many people remain unaware of the extent of their online presence. With millions of deceased users on social platforms like Facebook, the number of accounts belonging to the dead is expected to surpass those of the living. This complexity highlights the need for individuals to consider their digital legacy and how their online information is managed after they pass away.
Navigating Digital Footprints
Digital footprints have expanded significantly in recent years, rendering the traditional notion of a 'footprint' outdated. Today, people create a myriad of digital records without even realizing it, from browser history to surveillance data. This vast footprint can pose risks if sensitive information falls into the wrong hands; for example, audio recordings can be exploited to create convincing voice clones. The relentless growth of digital data necessitates that individuals become more conscious of their online activities and the implications they may have for personal privacy and security.
Preparing for a Digital Will
To effectively manage one's digital legacy, it's crucial to establish a digital will that outlines preferences for online accounts and digital assets. Users can designate legacy contacts on platforms like Google and Facebook, granting trusted individuals access to their accounts after death. Open discussions with family members about digital wishes can ease burdens during emotionally challenging times. Additionally, individuals should consider maintaining a list of accounts without sharing passwords to facilitate easier access for their loved ones.
Many of us have seen this happen. Someone dies IRL, but their online presence lives on. It’s estimated that millions of accounts on Facebook belong to people who have died. And many of us have so many online accounts, it’s hard to keep track of them ourselves – let alone leaving that work to loved ones after we’re gone. So, what “digital remains” are we leaving behind when we die? And how do we ensure our loved ones have the tools to manage it? Psychologist Elaine Kasket walks us through how to think about all the data that does not get buried with you.