Social media is very much a part of my everyday. On any given day I have probably scrolled through my Facebook, posted a few happy birthdays, checked my Instagram, and snapchatted my friends. Growing up in the so-called Age of Technology, all of these habits seems perfectly natural, an integral part of my life. But what about death?
The question of what happens to our social media accounts after we die is not a new one. It is one Facebook has even specifically addressed, by adding the option to memorialize someone's page if they die. This adds certain restrictions to who can post and view a profile, as well as adding the word "Remembering" before a person's name. Another option, of course, is to delete the account. Or you could leave it up as it normally is, which might lead to certain problems. I cannot imagine how upsetting it would be to see the account of a dead loved one vandalized by posting nasty things to their wall. Or worse, someone could take over the account and pretend to be that loved one. I have heard of close relatives posting on the account as if they were the deceased. While I don't want to take away from anyone's personal response to grief, this does strike me as a little creepy.
Regardless of what we decide to do with our accounts, they do provide some aspect of ourselves that lives on after death, a semi-historical record. In the future, we may develop some more etiquette in response to these situations. Social media could be used to comfort the bereaved, by offering a way for others to reach out as well as a space for remembrance. Personally, I remain skeptical. Though we have replaced many formerly face-to-face interactions with digital ones, the most difficult times call for something stronger than a sympathetic wall post.
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