What Happens to Your Websites When You Die?

“Preserving Your Digital Legacy: Planning for the Inevitable”

Introduction

What happens to your digital life when you’re no longer here to manage it? In today’s hyper-connected world, your online presence continues even after you’re gone. This article explores the importance of planning your digital succession, understanding your digital assets, and ensuring your digital legacy lives on. Discover how to safeguard your online footprint for the future.

The Digital Afterlife Dilemma

Invisible Threads That Connect Us

Imagine you’re reading this article and suddenly, the unthinkable happens. What if you were to pass away at this very moment? Your Facebook and Instagram profiles would persist, oblivious to your departure. People might unknowingly “like” your last selfie, unaware it’s your final photograph.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp group notifications would continue to pop up, inviting you for coffee next Tuesday. Your Gmail inbox would fill with unread messages, and clients would grow frustrated with the radio silence that you can’t break.

Hidden within your device lies an extensive archive of photos, locked away with no one to share them. Software licenses remain active for now, thanks to this month’s direct debit, but that can’t go on indefinitely, potentially causing your website to wither away.

Planning Your Digital Succession

Embracing the Inevitable

As a society, we often shy away from discussing death, and it’s reflected in our reluctance to draft conventional wills. Shockingly, fewer than half of US adults have a will according to Caring.com. If you run a blog, own a small business, or moderate an online community, your passing affects not only you but also your customers and subscribers. They’ve invested in services they expect to last beyond your lifetime.

To ensure the continuity of these services, it’s crucial to formulate a plan for your digital assets.

Understanding Your Digital Assets

Beyond the Catchy Label

The term ‘digital assets’ is catchy but encompasses a complex array of elements:

1. Ownership:
   • Personal assets (email accounts, chats, texts, social media accounts)
   • Financial assets (online bank accounts, PayPal, Bitcoin, etc)
   • Business assets (eBay, Spotify, customer orders)
   • Intellectual property rights (domain names, images, blogs, e-courses, podcasts, books, and computer files)

Knowing what can and cannot be redistributed after you’ve passed is essential for preserving your legacy or business.

Ownership of Your Data

The Fine Print of Digital Services

Surprisingly, when it comes to digital assets, you often don’t truly own what you use on social platforms. Accepting a tech company’s terms and conditions often means you’re subscribing to a ‘digital service’ rather than owning the content outright. This can become particularly important if you’ve created online courses or content with commercial value. Who will inherit the income generated from these assets?

Each platform has its own terms and conditions, making it necessary to explore your rights and potential income distribution after your passing.

The Importance of Passwords

The Keys to Your Digital Kingdom

People underestimate the number of accounts they accumulate over a lifetime, from online banking to social media pages. Each requires a password, often with two-factor authentication tied to your phone. Without a will in place, your digital assets may vanish upon your sudden demise, leaving savings, memories, and online ventures in jeopardy.

Ensuring Your Digital Assets Live On

The Internet and Its Silent Departures

While we don’t typically associate the internet with mortality, people go offline daily. Facebook alone has seen an estimated 30 million users pass away in its first eight years, leaving behind photos, chats, and comments. Facebook does offer memorialized accounts, but there can be a delay, leading to posthumous friend requests and messages.

To gracefully exit the digital world, consider appointing someone to manage these matters on your behalf. Different companies have varying policies regarding death and privacy, so knowing which platforms you use most is a crucial first step in managing your digital legacy.

Preserving Your Digital Footprint

Three Essential Steps

Preserving your digital legacy can be broken down into three straightforward steps:

1. Make a Digital Inventory:
   • Document all your digital assets, including online accounts, passwords, and associated contact information. Ensure that those you trust know how to access your accounts when you’re no longer here.
2. Write a Digital Will:
   • Choose who should inherit your digital assets upon your passing. This could be an individual, an organization, or both. If you select a sole digital executor, you’re entrusting them with the responsibility of managing and distributing your digital assets.
3. Store Your Passwords:
   • If you prefer not to document all your passwords, consider using a digital storage service that can securely manage them on your behalf. This streamlines access for your chosen executor, requiring only one account and password for access to your assets.

Why Nominating a Digital Executor Matters

Ensuring the Continuation of Your Digital Presence

If you’re serious about safeguarding your digital assets, a digital executor can play a crucial role in preserving your content after you’re gone. To grant them access to your accounts, they will need a death certificate, a grant of probate, and their executor’s ID. The responsibilities of a digital executor include:

• Managing your digital files, photos, videos, podcasts, and other online assets.
• Transferring your phone’s data, including photos, voice messages, and texts, to your chosen beneficiaries.
• Maintaining your business’s online presence, which may involve handling web hosting services and domain renewals.
• Managing financial assets, cryptocurrency, vouchers, and distributing them to your designated beneficiaries.
• Informing social media platforms, online communities, digital friends, and business contacts (if applicable) of your passing.

Naming a Digital Executor

Ensuring Your Wishes Are Carried Out

If you already have a traditional will but haven’t included your online passwords or designated a digital executor, you can rectify this by seeking legal assistance. A lawyer or legal services can help you make a ‘codicil amendment’ to your existing will.

Embracing the Inevitability of Death

Preparing for the Unavoidable

Death is a topic that many find uncomfortable to confront, especially in the context of their digital legacy. The ephemeral nature of the internet and its relentless drive towards the future contribute to our neglect of this aspect of life. Yet, irrespective of wealth, beliefs, or background, we all face the certainty of death.

As time passes and we age, our bodies undergo changes. It’s a universal truth that we must eventually pass the baton to those who can continue our work when we’re no longer here.

Conclusion: Embrace the Opportunity to Plan

If you’ve reached the end of this article, you’ve realized the importance of planning for your digital legacy. While the internet may feel eternal, your time here is not. By taking the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your digital presence continues to shine even after you’ve left the stage. Don’t wait; start planning your digital succession today.