In life, we curate our digital identities — social media profiles, emails, photo libraries, blogs, and cloud accounts — but what happens to all of this after we die?
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Welcome to the age of digital immortality, where your online footprint can outlive your physical one. From Facebook memorial pages to AI avatars trained on your data, death in the digital age is more complex — and more permanent — than ever before.
If you’re wondering what happens to your digital assets, who can access them, or how to protect your online legacy, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
Why Your Digital Legacy Matters
We live much of our lives online: banking, connecting, creating, and sharing. So when we pass, our digital lives remain — sometimes accessible, sometimes lost, and often overlooked in wills or funeral planning.
Your digital legacy includes:
- Social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)
- Emails and messages
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)
- Photos and videos
- Subscriptions and online accounts
- Domain names and websites
- Digital assets (crypto, NFTs, PayPal)
- Online businesses and memberships
- AI content, blogs, or even metaverse avatars
Without a clear plan, families are left navigating privacy laws, company policies, and emotional decisions — often during a time of grief.
What Happens to Your Online Accounts When You Die?
Each platform handles death differently. Some delete accounts, others offer memorialisation. Here’s what happens on the most common platforms:
- Can be memorialised or deleted
- A legacy contact (pre-assigned by you) can manage limited actions
- Without a legacy contact, family can request memorialisation with proof of death
- Can be memorialised
- Can be removed if next of kin provides proof
🐦 X (formerly Twitter)
- No memorial option; accounts can be deactivated by authorised persons
📧 Google (Gmail, Drive, YouTube)
- Offers an Inactive Account Manager to pre-select what happens to data
- Allows account deletion or data sharing with trusted contacts
📱 Apple (iCloud, iPhone Data)
- A Digital Legacy Contact must be pre-appointed to access your data
- Without one, a court order is typically required
📷 TikTok, LinkedIn, Dropbox
- Account deletion typically requires proof of death and legal documentation
What Is Digital Immortality?
Digital immortality refers to how your data, identity, and content live on after death. In some cases, AI and data analytics can even recreate your personality, allowing future generations to interact with your digital self.
Emerging forms of digital immortality include:
- AI chatbots trained on your messages and photos
- Voice clones and digital avatars
- Metaverse memorial spaces
- NFT memorials
- Online “afterlife” services that send messages or social posts after death
While exciting, these raise ethical, privacy, and emotional questions — and show why planning your digital afterlife is essential.
How to Plan Your Digital Afterlife
1. Take an Inventory
Make a list of your key digital accounts and assets:
- Social media
- Banking & PayPal
- Cloud storage
- Online business logins
- Cryptocurrency wallets
- Email addresses
- Subscription services (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
💡 Tip: Use a secure password manager to track access details.
2. Nominate a Digital Executor
In Australia, your digital executor can be the same as your legal executor, or someone you nominate separately. Their job is to:
- Access or close your online accounts
- Manage your digital assets
- Follow any instructions in your will
- Protect your privacy
Include this role in your will or estate plan and be sure your executor understands their responsibilities.
3. Set Up Legacy Contacts and Tools
Platforms like Facebook, Apple, and Google let you assign someone to manage your data or close your accounts. This is faster and more effective than relying on legal processes after death.
Examples:
- Facebook Legacy Contact
- Google Inactive Account Manager
- Apple Digital Legacy Contact
4. Create a Digital Will
A digital will outlines what should happen to your data. It includes:
- What accounts should be deleted
- Who can access emails or photos
- What content should be preserved (blogs, creative work)
- Instructions for memorials, messages, or future posts
While not legally binding in every state, this can support your executor’s actions and provide peace of mind for your family.
5. Make Decisions About Digital Memorials
Do you want your Facebook profile turned into a memorial page? Should your blog or YouTube channel be preserved for future generations?
Some families create online tribute websites or memorial pages hosted by eziFunerals. These digital spaces let loved ones continue to visit, reflect, and share.
Managing Someone Else’s Digital Life After Death
If you’re the executor or next of kin, managing a deceased person’s digital legacy can be daunting. Here’s what to do:
- Locate their will or digital instructions
- Contact major platforms and request account closure or memorialisation
- Preserve photos and important files
- Cancel or manage subscriptions
- Avoid impersonating the deceased — follow platform procedures
💬 Need help? eziFunerals can guide you through steps to manage both the emotional and practical aspects of digital legacy.
Legal Considerations in Australia
Australia currently has no uniform law on digital assets after death. However:
- Some digital assets may be classified as property under succession law
- Executors may face challenges accessing data under terms of service
- Pre-planning is your best defence
Law reform bodies are calling for clearer rights for executors and families. In the meantime, platforms often have the final say.
Digital Afterlife Services: What’s Emerging?
A number of services now offer digital afterlife planning and posthumous services, including:
- SafeBeyond – Sends video messages or emails after death
- MyWishes – Lets you create a digital will and funeral plan
- DeadSocial – Schedule messages or social posts after passing
- HereAfter AI – Lets people create digital avatars of themselves to interact with loved ones
While some may find these tools comforting, others find them unsettling — a reminder to discuss your preferences clearly with loved ones.
Final Thoughts: Legacy in the Digital Age
In the 21st century, death doesn’t end our online presence. Our data, memories, and messages live on — unless we choose otherwise.
Whether you want to be digitally remembered, completely erased, or preserved through AI, the choice should be yours.
At eziFunerals, we believe in empowering Australians to plan funerals and legacies their way — including their digital footprints. Our tools and resources help families navigate modern grief, estate planning, and online memorials with confidence and clarity.
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Peter Erceg
Peter Erceg is the Founder and Owner of eziFunerals — Australia’s Independent Funeral Planning Authority. With more than 40 years of experience in government and public health, Peter has become one of the country’s leading voices on funeral transparency, consumer rights, and ethical funeral practices. Through eziFunerals, Peter has built a national platform that empowers Australian families to make informed end-of-life decisions — free from pressure, commissions, and confusion. His goal is simple: "to help every Australian plan smarter, save money, and choose funeral services with confidence." 🕊 eziFunerals was founded by Peter in 2011, as an independent funeral comparison and planning platform that allows consumers to: • Compare local funeral directors and transparent quotes, • Understand real funeral costs across Australia, and • Connect with trusted, independent funeral homes that uphold the Fair Funeral Promise. As Australia’s Independent Funeral Planning Authority, eziFunerals is recognised by media, consumers, and funeral professionals for its leadership in price transparency and consumer protection. “We believe every family deserves a fair, dignified, and affordable farewell — without hidden fees or sales pressure.” 📘 Peter is the author of What Kind of Funeral: A Self-Help Guide to Planning a Meaningful Funeral, a practical guide that has helped thousands of Australians understand their options and avoid unnecessary costs. He regularly contributes articles and commentary on: • Funeral cost transparency and industry reform, • Prepaid funerals and consumer protection, • Emerging trends in eco-friendly and digital memorials, and • The role of AI and technology in end-of-life planning. 🎙 Peter and eziFunerals have been featured in major Australian media outlets including ABC News. His insights continue to shape the national conversation on funeral costs, consumer rights, and ethical practices in the funeral industry. ⚖️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Peter Erceg are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of eziFunerals or its members. The information provided on this site is general in nature and should not be taken as personal, legal, or financial advice. Consumers are encouraged to conduct their own research and compare funeral services that best meet their needs and circumstances.