Facebook users can name ‘heir’ to accounts

Facebook has rolled out a new feature which allows a friend or family member to maintain an account when an account holder dies.

The social networking giant announced the feature earlier this year, but it has taken until now for it to go live. It allows users to appoint an executor to their account so it can still be operational after they die.

The nominated person will be able to update the profile, accept and send messages and friend requests, and upload pictures. They will not be able to edit what the dead person has already posted, what friends post, or read the deceased person’s private messages. They will also be unable to delete the account.

Users will also be allowed to have their accounts deleted after they die. However, a friend or family member will have to inform Facebook of their death.

Previously, Facebook had a policy of freezing a profile following that person’s death and allowing the page to serve as a memorial.

When the ‘legacy contacts’ feature was first announced in February, it was ridiculed in the US, with a number of TV shows mocking the idea, stating people would be able to update statuses as “dead”.

They also said that there was a risk it could confuse people, who may think their loved one is still alive if they respond to a friend request.

However, Facebook said the feature allows people to continue to remember a loved one after they have passed away.

“Facebook is a place to share and connect with friends and family,” said Facebook product manager Vanessa Callison-Burch. “For many of us, it’s also a place to remember and honour those we’ve lost. When a person passes away, their account can become a memorial of their life, friendships and experiences.”

In a statement, Facebook also said the impetus for making the changes came from users who had relatives who passed away.