Unlike You, Your Facebook Account Can Be Immortal

Facebook allows you to designate a friend or family member as a "legacy contact." If you want to have your account memorialized after you die, this person basically serves as the executor of your Facebook account by managing your profile and can update your cover photo and profile photo, post information and accept new friend requests. (Memorialized accounts without legacy contacts cannot be changed.)

Even without a designated legacy contact, family members can report your death and place a memorialization request by contacting Facebook. When a regular account is converted to a memorialized account, the word "Remembering" appears next to your name, and if your security settings permit, friends can post reminiscences on your timeline. Facebook says people with memorialized accounts do not appear in advertisements or birthday reminders on the site and are also excluded from the People You May Know list of friend suggestions.

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