Facebook Rolls-out Legacy Contacts to Australian Users

Facebook are introducing the legacy contact feature for its users in Australia. This feature allows you to choose a friend who will be given access to your Facebook after you have, well you know… died.  Bleak, huh?

http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzAyLzEyLzI4L0ZhY2Vib29rTWVtLmVkMWQ2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTk1MHg1MzQjCmUJanBn/eae781ec/122/Facebook-Memorial-Page-thumb.jpg

The feature began in February in the US, but it’s moving quickly across the Pacific Ocean and is now allowing users in both Australia and New Zealand to have access to this tool.

All you have to do is select a family member or friend – or anyone you trust I suppose. It can all be done under the 'Legacy Contact' section in the Security settings. 

The Legacy Contact can’t do everything. They can’t read private messages or change past posts for example. But they can decide whether to keep the account, accept friend requests, change the profile picture and post tributes.  

At first, I thought: why would anyone want to give their Facebook to someone? Surely we would all just like to have it removed and allow our nearest and dearest to come to terms with their loss. However, I then read that your Legacy Contact will be able to download your Facebook timeline, including all their pics!

This made me realise how Facebook may actually help people in mourning. It will give that person (and whomever they wish to share the photos with) something to remember you by, because let’s face it, that’s one of the only ways we keep pictures nowadays. Who has time for paper albums and family portraits, when Facebook does it all for you?

If you really don’t want someone to have any control over your Facebook you can have your account permanently deleted. But you need to tick that box in settings instead.  I don’t know how Facebook would find out about your death – I assume someone would have to ring up and let them know.

You can also have your Facebook "memorialised" or put into a state of “remembering.”

I know it does all seem rather morbid but I think this is also a sign that Facebook has become something bigger than we ever expected.

Who would have thought, when we first signed up to Facebook back in the noughties, that one day this Facebook thing would get so big that we would have to plan for our deaths on it.

Like I said, this is only available in US and Australia at the moment but it's the sort of thing that we're all going to need eventually. *shudders*

I sort of wish Bebo had this tool because I have an account out there, lurking somewhere in the dusty corners of the internet, whose username and password I have long forgotten. It would be quite nice to know that after you’ve gone, you’re not going to live on as the 13 year old in the park wearing flared jeans with diamantes on. 

That sh** is immortal!

Megan Herdson

Megan is a country girl who moved to the city with some big dreams. She is studying her MA in Creative Writing whilst also managing an American Football Team.  She loves her blog and wants nothing more than to have her words read. That and to win the Championship, obviously. Follow her @MeganAtSMF

 

Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/.