Postmortem Policies: Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat (Essay Sample)

Sarfraz Hussain Writing Creek 19 January 2023 Postmortem Policies: Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat Facebook's postmortem policy states that when the company is notified of a user's death, the account can be memorialized or deleted. Memorialization allows friends and family to view the profile and post memories, while preventing others from making changes to the account. To memorialize an account, Facebook requires proof of death, such as a link to an obituary or a copy of a death certificate. If the account is not memorialized, it will be deleted. According to Facebook's Help Center, "We delay deletion for a few days after the request is made to give the account holder's friends and family time to download their information." Twitter's postmortem policy is similar to Facebook's. When the company is notified of a user's death, the account can be deactivated or deleted. Deactivation allows the account to be archived, but not visible to the public. To deactivate an account, Twitter requires proof of death, such as a copy of the death certificate or a statement from a legal representative. If the account is not deactivated, it will be deleted. According to Twitter's Help Center, "We will only deactivate an account if we receive a valid request from an authorized person." "This process is intended to respect the wishes of the deceased user and their family." Snapchat's postmortem policy states that when the company is notified of a user's death, the account will be deleted. According to Snapchat's Support Center, "We do not have a policy for memorializing accounts of deceased users." Snapchat does not provide a way for friends and family to view the account or memories of the deceased user. However, it is important to note that users can save their own Snaps and Chats before their death to share with their loved o...