Death is not optional. Our offline and online lives are connected. Many people plan and organize their offline affairs for the end of life, and that’s why it’s important to get your digital presence under control as well. We are everywhere online, do you know exactly where? It’s time to organize your digital life.
Before we would organize photo albums, letters, documents. You would let your relatives know what to do with all those documents. Your offline world. Now, we moved so many things online. Documents, thousands of photos, and videos, all kept somewhere online. Our digital presence on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok. Your websites, subscriptions, purchases, online services, memberships. It’s important that we take care of the online world as well by organizing everything so our family members/friends know what’s going to happen or what they need to do in case of your death.
13 things that can help you to organize your digital life:
Take Your Time
This is not something you can do within a few hours but take your time and make sure everything is under control. Unless you don’t care what’s going to happen with your online accounts – then do nothing.
Create a List
Create a list (inventory) of all your online accounts, profiles, services. Decide what needs to be done with your online presence after you die. Add directions what you want to happen and who is going to be responsible for fulfilling your request.
E-mails
Google – Inactive Account Manager (click here)
Yahoo – Options available if a Yahoo Account owner passes away(click here)
Social Media
Facebook – What will happen to my Facebook account if I pass away? (click here). Set up your “Legacy Contact” (click here)
What happens when you deactivate your Facebook account? (click here)
Twitter – How to contact Twitter about a deceased family member’s account (click here)
Linkedin – Deceased Linkedin Member (click here)
Instagram – What happens when a deceased person’s Instagram account is memorialized? (click here)
Streaming Services
Netflix – How to cancel an account for a deceased Netflix member (click here)
Spotify – How to close a Spotify account after someone dies (click here)
Memberships
Add on your list (inventory) all the other memberships: magazines, newspapers, music subscriptions, paid apps, etc.
Websites
List all your free and paid websites. Domain(s) registrations and hosting platforms.
Cloud Storage
List all the cloud storage you use for photos, videos, and documents.
Dropbox – How to access the Dropbox account of someone who has passed away (click here)
Microsoft OneDrive – Accessing Microsoft services (Outlook, OneDrive, etc.) when someone has died (click here)
Google – Delete your Google account when you die (click here)
Finances
List all your banking online access, peer-to-peer payments (PayPal, Venmo, etc.), Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Digital assets that generate income (photos, products you sell online), list of recurring bills (direct deposits), investment accounts, insurance, bank accounts, credit/debit cards.
Healthcare
any healthcare platform you signed up to to get access to your virtual doctor’s visits, blood work tests, etc.
Devices
Make sure someone has access to your smartphone and all the apps (passcode), access to your cloud storage (Apple, Android).
How to request access to a deceased family member’s Apple account (click here)
New with iOS15 iCloud+ “digital Legacy” (click here)
Google (Android) submit a request regarding a deceased user’s account (click here)
How to tell Google what to do with your data when you die (click here)
Passwords/Access
Use the Password Manager application (LastPass, 1Password, DashLine, Bitwarden, Keeper, KeePassXC, etc.) to keep all your passwords in one place (click here). Share access to that Password Manager application with the trusted person. Or keep a printed list of all your passwords
Other
How to close and delete your Amazon account (click here)
How to delete your personal data from public record websites (click here)
Your Story
Record video or audio (use your smartphone) with your life story. History of your childhood and career. Your outline on life. Whatever you think it’s important. Those videos might be great memories for your family. If you don’t feel comfortable with the video format, then record just audio.
You can also record a video with all your direction regarding what should happen with your digital life after you die.
