Digital Memorials: Honoring Memories in the Digital Age
A digital memorial is any online place where people remember someone: an online memorial page, a memorialized social media profile, a livestreamed or recorded service, or a shared photo album. Families also have to deal with the person's accounts. Facebook, Google and Apple each have a way to plan for this in advance — a legacy contact on Facebook, Inactive Account Manager on Google, and a Legacy Contact on Apple devices — and they work very differently.
Types of digital memorials
- Online memorial pages with the obituary, photos, service details and a guestbook. Compare options in our guide to the best online memorial sites.
- Memorialized social media profiles where friends can keep posting memories.
- Livestreamed or recorded services for people who cannot attend.
- Shared albums and video tributes collected from family and friends.
What happens to a Facebook account?
A Facebook profile can be memorialized after the owner dies. If the person chose a legacy contact, that contact can, according to Meta:
- write a pinned post on the profile (for example, service details or a final message);
- update the profile picture and cover photo;
- request that the account be removed;
- download a copy of what the person shared, if that option was turned on.
A legacy contact cannot log in to the account, read messages, remove friends or send friend requests.
What happens to a Google account?
Google's Inactive Account Manager lets the owner decide in advance what happens if the account is inactive for a period they choose. They can name up to 10 trusted contacts, share all or selected data with each, and write a message those contacts receive by email when the plan activates. Contacts verify with a phone number before downloading. Google says it may delete an account that has been inactive across Google for at least two years if no plan is set up.
What happens to an Apple account?
On an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 15.2 or later (or a Mac with macOS Monterey 12.1 or later), the owner can add one or more Legacy Contacts. Each contact receives an access key; after the death they request access with that key and a death certificate. A Legacy Contact can then access data such as photos, messages, notes, files and device backups — but not purchased movies, music or books, and not iCloud Keychain passwords or payment information.
| Platform | Set up in advance | What the family can do |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy contact | Pinned post, profile photos, removal request, download (if allowed); no login or messages | |
| Inactive Account Manager | Receive selected data and a message from the owner (up to 10 contacts) | |
| Apple | Legacy Contact + access key | Access photos, messages, notes, files, backups; no purchased media or Keychain |
Setting these up takes a few minutes and saves families months of requests. Our digital legacy planning guide covers the rest of a person's online life, and what happens to your digital life after you die covers other common accounts.
How to livestream a funeral or memorial
- Ask the funeral home or venue whether it offers streaming, and what it charges.
- If you stream it yourself, use a phone on a tripod, plug it into power, and test the venue's Wi-Fi or mobile signal beforehand.
- Share the link privately with the people who need it rather than posting it publicly.
- Ask someone other than a close family member to run it, so you can be present.
- Save the recording for people in other time zones.
Good practice for an online memorial page
- Decide who manages it and who can post or approve comments.
- Check the privacy settings — some families prefer a page only invited guests can see.
- Keep your own copies of photos and messages in case a service closes.
Our free Obituary Writer can draft the text for a memorial page, and the AI Planning Assistant can help you plan a streamed service.
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People Also Ask
Can a family member log in to a deceased person's Facebook?
No. A legacy contact can manage a memorialized profile — pinned post, profile photos, removal request, and a download if the person allowed it — but Meta does not let them log in or read messages.
How does Google's Inactive Account Manager work?
The owner chooses an inactivity period and up to 10 trusted contacts. When the account has been inactive that long, the contacts receive a message and, if chosen, a link to download selected data.
How do I get into a deceased person's iPhone or Apple account?
If they added you as a Legacy Contact, request access with the access key and a death certificate. A Legacy Contact can access photos, messages, notes, files and backups, but not purchased media or Keychain passwords.