Life after death online.

• Author: Greenberg, Pam
• Position: TRENDS & TRANSITIONS

Before the days of social media, when people died, funerals or wakes were the only way for family and friends to remember them. Now, however, we have digital memories of loved ones through their email and social networking accounts, but often have little say over what happens to those accounts when owners die.

Terms of service agreements and privacy policies govern who can use social media and email accounts, and most expire when a user dies. Gmail and Yahoo! email accounts, for example, are closed after a period of inactivity. If the terms of service are violated--even by a family member with the password--the account may be shut down. That's what happened recently to one mother two hours after she requested access to her son's Facebook page after his death, according to news accounts. Yet, closing people's accounts after they die protects them from being hacked, spammed or abused.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Family members can close a Yahoo! email account by providing a death certificate, but if someone wants access to the account, it requires a court order. Google may provide access to a deceased person's Gmail account, if specific documentation, including a death certificate, is provided. Otherwise, the account will be deleted nine months after the last login.

Facebook allows family members to remove a loved one's account or memorialize it, which changes the privacy setting so only confirmed friends are allowed access to view past comments, post memories or leave condolences. Twitter allows family members to deactivate the account with documentation, but no one is allowed to login, regardless of his or her relationship to the deceased.

The Uniform Law Commission created a...