If you died today, what would happen to your WhatsApp chats, Instagram photos or email inbox? It’s a strange but urgent question in a world where our lives are tied to digital spaces. Our online footprints from personal photos to business accounts often outlive us. yet few people plan who will control them after death.
Digital inheritance sits in a legal and emotional grey area. Families struggle to access loved ones’ accounts due to strict privacy rules. Meanwhile, tech companies like Facebook and Google offer tools such as ‘Legacy Contacts’ and ‘Inactive Account Managers’ to manage accounts after death. Still, big questions remain ,who owns your data you or the platforms?
Beyond the legal issues, digital inheritance has an emotional side. Social media profiles often become memorials where loved ones post tributes long after death. For some, this offers comfort; for others, birthday reminders or old memories bring pain. Unlike humans, the digital world doesn’t grieve, and that creates unique challenges for the living.
Digital inheritance is a modern responsibility. Just as people write wills for property, we must also plan for our online afterlife. Creating a digital will, appointing someone to manage accounts or deciding to delete or preserve your identity can prevent confusion and pain. In today’s world, where online life is as real as physical life, preparing for death is not optional it’s essential.