To delete, or not to delete
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2025 3:36 am
It's all quite complicated. And Lucienne van der Geld, a lecturer in inheritance law at Radboud University and Director of Netwerk Notarissen, agrees : "When you die, all digital data should be able to be transferred to the heir, just like your material possessions." D66 also wants the inheritance law to be more modern . Member of Parliament Monica den Boer: "You can compare it to letters or photos that are in people's cupboards at home. They are inherited by heirs, because that is regulated by law. That does not apply to the material that you have stored online."
In order to make online accounts transferable, a law needs to be changed. And not only in the Netherlands, but also in Europe. That will take some time, if it happens at all. So you really have to get to work yourself.
For example, think of Facebook. Every now and then you receive a notification of a memory or highlight. whatsapp number list For example: ' Congratulations on your friendship anniversary! You have now been Facebook friends with ... for 10 years.' You don't want to receive these kinds of messages from someone who has passed away, do you? Or is that a nice memory that should be preserved?
You can also have your social media profile exist for a specific purpose. For example, if you have an incurable disease and share the process with your followers. Letting your account exist, and possibly having it managed by a surviving relative, can reinforce the need for research into this disease after death. Like the Twitter account of Hans Nijhof (this is actually not allowed).
To help you out, below I'll tell you what choices you have for your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google accounts.
Facebook
Facebook gives you two options (besides doing nothing and just letting your account exist as it is). The first option is to have a designated person convert your account into a memorial page. The biggest difference between your current account and a memorial page is that the words "in memory of" will be added to your profile. Additionally, your profile will no longer be used for birthday reminders and friend suggestions. How nice.
The second option is to have your account deleted once Facebook 'knows' that you have passed away. Someone has to report this.
Would you like your Facebook account to exist as a memorial page? Then you can indicate via Facebook which person can convert your account to this status. This person can, after your death:
In order to make online accounts transferable, a law needs to be changed. And not only in the Netherlands, but also in Europe. That will take some time, if it happens at all. So you really have to get to work yourself.
For example, think of Facebook. Every now and then you receive a notification of a memory or highlight. whatsapp number list For example: ' Congratulations on your friendship anniversary! You have now been Facebook friends with ... for 10 years.' You don't want to receive these kinds of messages from someone who has passed away, do you? Or is that a nice memory that should be preserved?
You can also have your social media profile exist for a specific purpose. For example, if you have an incurable disease and share the process with your followers. Letting your account exist, and possibly having it managed by a surviving relative, can reinforce the need for research into this disease after death. Like the Twitter account of Hans Nijhof (this is actually not allowed).
To help you out, below I'll tell you what choices you have for your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google accounts.
Facebook gives you two options (besides doing nothing and just letting your account exist as it is). The first option is to have a designated person convert your account into a memorial page. The biggest difference between your current account and a memorial page is that the words "in memory of" will be added to your profile. Additionally, your profile will no longer be used for birthday reminders and friend suggestions. How nice.
The second option is to have your account deleted once Facebook 'knows' that you have passed away. Someone has to report this.
Would you like your Facebook account to exist as a memorial page? Then you can indicate via Facebook which person can convert your account to this status. This person can, after your death: