After You Die, There's a Debate About Your Data
A brief guide to preparing your online data for the afterlife
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Facebook on Thursday said it has finally decided how to handle the photos and friend requests of its deceased users. In Facebook's settings, people can now appoint a friend or family member to be in charge of their legacy. The person gets to make one last public post, download all their loved one's Facebook photos, and respond to friend requests.
The decision was applauded by estate planners—especially because it gets around the issue of needing a password to get into people's accounts. Yet it doesn't solve all the problems around online information after death.