By Maeve Duggan
PEW Research - December 2, 2013
What happens to your digital life after you die? It’s a question not
many consider given how embedded the internet is in their lives. The
typical web user has 25 online accounts, ranging from email to social
media profiles and bank accounts, according to a 2007 study from Microsoft.
But families, companies and legislators are just starting to sort out
who owns and has access to these accounts after someone has died.
The issue came up recently in Virginia, when a couple, seeking
answers after their son’s suicide, realized they couldn’t access his Facebook account.
Now Virginia is one of a growing number of states that have passed laws
governing the digital accounts of the deceased. Meanwhile, technology
companies are forming their own policies regarding deceased users. While
still in the early stages, the laws and policies taking shape so far
indicate that designating one’s “digital assets” may soon become a
critical part of estate planning.
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