Digital Estate: What Happens to Your Online Accounts?
The average person has over 100 online accounts. When you die, each one becomes a headache for your executor. From email and social media to cryptocurrency wallets and cloud storage, your digital estate needs the same care as your physical one. Most platforms have specific processes for deceased users — Facebook can memorialise your account, Google has an Inactive Account Manager, and Apple offers a Digital Legacy programme. But without a clear record of what exists and how to access it, your executor may never find everything. Here's how to organise your digital afterlife.
Why Digital Estate Planning Matters
Your digital footprint includes:
- Email accounts (often the key to everything else)
- Social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X)
- Financial accounts (banking apps, investment platforms, crypto)
- Subscriptions (streaming, software, cloud storage)
- Business tools (domains, hosting, SaaS products)
- Photos and memories (iCloud, Google Photos, hard drives)
Platform Policies
Google's Inactive Account Manager lets you designate up to 10 trusted contacts who receive access after a period of inactivity (3-18 months). Set this up at myaccount.google.com/inactive.
You can appoint a Legacy Contact who can manage your memorialised profile. They can pin tributes, update your photo, and respond to friend requests — but can't read your messages.
Apple
Digital Legacy contacts can access your iCloud data (photos, messages, notes) after death. Set up via Settings > Apple ID > Password & Security > Legacy Contact.
Cryptocurrency
This is the most critical area. Without your private keys or seed phrases, crypto is permanently lost. Store recovery information securely (WhenImGone's SafeKeep vault is designed for exactly this).
Best Practices
- List every account in your WhenImGone digital section
- Set legacy contacts on platforms that support it
- Choose memorialise vs delete for each social profile
- Store critical passwords in SafeKeep vault
- Tell your executor where to find this information
The Password Manager Question
Using a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, etc.) is essential — but your executor needs your master password. Store it in WhenImGone's SafeKeep vault or with your solicitor.
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