Before the rise of digital technology, sentimental memories were preserved in tangible forms – printed photographs, photo albums, postcards, scrapbooks, and certificates. These physical keepsakes were easily accessible to loved ones after someone passed away, offering comfort and connection through shared history.
Today, however, our personal lives are increasingly digitised. Photos are stored on social media, videos are saved to cloud platforms, and cherished moments live in online archives. While this shift offers convenience and reach, it also introduces a new challenge: what happens to these digital assets when we die?
Without proactive digital legacy planning, accessing sentimental digital possessions can be complex and emotionally taxing for those left behind.
📊 What the Public Thinks: Insights from the YouGov Survey
A YouGov survey of 2,000 UK adults revealed a significant gap between the importance people place on their digital memories and the actions they’ve taken to protect them:
| Survey Findings | Percentage |
| Believe it’s important to consider what happens to sentimental digital possessions | 64% |
| Have not made any plans to pass on their digital assets | 57% |
| Of those with no plans: Had not thought about it | 52% |
| Thought about it but never got around to planning | 15% |
| Did not know where to start | 11% |
| Have used digital legacy tools (e.g. Google, Apple) | 3% |
These figures highlight a widespread lack of awareness and preparedness, despite growing reliance on digital platforms for memory storage.
🛡️ Raising Awareness: STEP’s Campaign for Digital Legacy Planning
To address this gap, STEP – the global professional body supporting families with estate and legacy planning – launched the Protecting Your Digital Memories campaign. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of digital legacy planning and encourage individuals to take action.
Given that only 3% of survey respondents have used available digital legacy tools, STEP and its members are actively collaborating with digital service providers and governments to develop best practice guidance for users across platforms.
📱 What Happens to Social Media Accounts After Death?
To ease the burden on loved ones, it’s advisable to include clear instructions in your estate planning documents regarding the management of your social media accounts. Currently, there are three main options:
- Memorialised Accounts
Available on some platforms (e.g. Facebook), this feature transforms the profile to reflect that the individual has passed away. It removes birthday notifications but retains access to photos and shared memories. - Deleted Accounts
Permanently removes the profile and all associated content from the platform. - Left Open
The account remains active and continues to function as it did during the user’s lifetime.
🔐 Which Platforms Offer Digital Legacy Tools?
Digital legacy planning features vary by provider. While some platforms – like Google and Apple – offer tools to manage access and permissions, others have yet to introduce such capabilities.
To ensure your loved ones can access your digital accounts and assets, it’s essential to explore the settings and legacy options available on each platform you use. Taking these steps now can prevent confusion and emotional distress later.