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Author Topic: Digital legacies  (Read 4038 times)

Hope

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Digital legacies
« on: December 04, 2015, 10:16:57 AM »
Following on from my thread on Funeral costs, and mirroring BBC Breakfast's series on 'The End of Life' this week, I thought I'd start a thread on people's digital legacies.  It seems that the law is very uncertain over what digital material belongs to the respective social media platform and what to the person who has died.

For instance, what would happen here if one of the members was to die?  If I died, would my son-in-law be able to close my account (I am permanently signed in and he knows where to find my password if needs be).

Have folk here organised back-ups to social media accounts, etc? 

Sorry to appear morbid, but I was interested to hear the discusion on this morning's Breakfast show.
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floo

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2015, 10:35:07 AM »
When I die my social interactions on forums and Twitter, will die with me. My husband and children don't approve of me posting on forums or Twitter for which they don't have the passwords. They have the passwords for all the important stuff like my bank accounts, premium bonds etc.
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ad_orientem

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2015, 10:45:52 AM »
When my dad died we couldn't close his Facebook account. No one knew his password or anything like that. So I still get reminders for his birthday and stuff like that. It reminds me that he's gone but then I'll go and have a pint of Guiness in his honour, him being of Irish descent, like.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2015, 11:36:39 AM by ad_orientem »
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Hope

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2015, 11:17:12 AM »
Quote from: Floo on December 04, 2015, 10:35:07 AM
When I die my social interactions on forums and Twitter, will die with me.
But how will anyone here know that you are deceased, Floo to close it down? 
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Red Giant

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2015, 11:20:41 AM »
Quote from: Floo on December 04, 2015, 10:35:07 AM
When I die my social interactions on forums and Twitter, will die with me. My husband and children don't approve of me posting on forums or Twitter for which they don't have the passwords. They have the passwords for all the important stuff like my bank accounts, premium bonds etc.
I'm pretty sure it's not actually legal to log in as a dead person.
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Hope

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2015, 11:22:44 AM »
Quote from: Red Giant on December 04, 2015, 11:20:41 AM
I'm pretty sure it's not actually legal to log in as a dead person.
On a previous board I was a member of, one of the posters die and his daughter logged in, explained what had happened and kept us up to date with funeral and other developments for about 3 months before asking the mods to close the account.  Not sure that there is anything illegal about that - that's what I mean about the legal situation being complicated.
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Lists of what is needed and a search engine to find your nearest collector (scroll to bottom for latter) are here:  http://www.twam.uk/donate-tools

floo

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2015, 11:31:19 AM »
Quote from: Hope on December 04, 2015, 11:17:12 AM
But how will anyone here know that you are deceased, Floo to close it down?

Does it matter?
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Hope

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2015, 11:44:53 AM »
Quote from: Floo on December 04, 2015, 11:31:19 AM
Does it matter?
In a way, yes.  We've seen how people wonder about the health, welfare, etc. of those who don't post for a length of time, especially if they haven't explained that they would be not posting before stopping.  After all, despite our disagreements we are a community now.
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Are your, or your friends'/relatives', garages, lofts or sheds full of unused DIY gear, sewing/knitting machines or fabric and haberdashery stuff?

Lists of what is needed and a search engine to find your nearest collector (scroll to bottom for latter) are here:  http://www.twam.uk/donate-tools

floo

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2015, 12:07:36 PM »
Quote from: Hope on December 04, 2015, 11:44:53 AM
In a way, yes.  We've seen how people wonder about the health, welfare, etc. of those who don't post for a length of time, especially if they haven't explained that they would be not posting before stopping.  After all, despite our disagreements we are a community now.

Well my children won't be informing anyone on-line when I have kicked the bucket that is for sure, even if they had the passwords.
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Samuel

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2015, 01:03:04 PM »
That's a shame because Hope is right, we are a community despite the rows etc. I'd certainly wonder where you were Floo if you ever stopped posting!

In fact I often wonder about a poster called Miles Sinclair. He was the first person I had a meaty discussion with back on the old BBC boards. Haven't seen him on here for years though. He just sort of disappeared.

I had this discussion with my wife the other day. I told her all about Elevenses and his daughter coming on to update us. I think we were all really grateful for that. On the other hand I quite like this space being just mine, separate from any friends and family. The only person here I know in real life is Richard Forest, but we don't see each other very often. Come to think about it he hasn't posted for a while either.
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Nearly Sane

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2015, 01:12:12 PM »
Miles not signed on in 3 years, Richard was signed on 27th Nov.

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Shaker

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2015, 01:16:08 PM »
I remember (and liked) Miles Sinclair too. IIRC a few years ago he had a stroke; once he'd recovered he did resume posting, but only for a short time and I haven't seen him around now in a few years.

I do sometimes wonder about some of the regulars on the old BBC boards who didn't continue elsewhere, such as AmbersKnight.

Shaft2101 (I think?) is someone else whose posts I used to enjoy but hasn't been seen in several years - since he got married, I believe.

It's up to him of course but it's a shame that Richard Forrest doesn't post any more, as he's hugely knowledgeable and his posts were always fascinating. I do still see his name at the bottom of the page from time to time, but he hasn't posted in ages - since September 2013 :(
« Last Edit: December 04, 2015, 01:47:32 PM by Shaker »
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floo

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2015, 01:33:00 PM »
Quote from: Samuel on December 04, 2015, 01:03:04 PM
That's a shame because Hope is right, we are a community despite the rows etc. I'd certainly wonder where you were Floo if you ever stopped posting!

In fact I often wonder about a poster called Miles Sinclair. He was the first person I had a meaty discussion with back on the old BBC boards. Haven't seen him on here for years though. He just sort of disappeared.

I had this discussion with my wife the other day. I told her all about Elevenses and his daughter coming on to update us. I think we were all really grateful for that. On the other hand I quite like this space being just mine, separate from any friends and family. The only person here I know in real life is Richard Forest, but we don't see each other very often. Come to think about it he hasn't posted for a while either.

I have no illusions about myself and if I stopped posting here for whatever the reason, I very much doubt I would be missed.
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Samuel

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #13 on: December 04, 2015, 02:15:22 PM »
Quote from: Floo on December 04, 2015, 01:33:00 PM
I have no illusions about myself and if I stopped posting here for whatever the reason, I very much doubt I would be missed.

Then you are mistaken
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A lot of people don't believe that the loch ness monster exists. Now, I don't know anything about zooology, biology, geology, herpetology, evolutionary theory, evolutionary biology, marine biology, cryptozoology, palaeontology or archaeology... but I think... what if a dinosaur got into the lake?

Samuel

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2015, 02:16:42 PM »
Quote from: Shaker on December 04, 2015, 01:16:08 PM
I do still see his name at the bottom of the page

what do you mean? Is there an easier way to see if someone has been active rather than rooting into the history pages?
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A lot of people don't believe that the loch ness monster exists. Now, I don't know anything about zooology, biology, geology, herpetology, evolutionary theory, evolutionary biology, marine biology, cryptozoology, palaeontology or archaeology... but I think... what if a dinosaur got into the lake?

Shaker

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #15 on: December 04, 2015, 02:19:51 PM »
Quote from: Samuel on December 04, 2015, 02:16:42 PM
what do you mean? Is there an easier way to see if someone has been active rather than rooting into the history pages?

All I did was look him up in the list of members and then clicked on 'posts' - the most recent post is at the top of the page of results.
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Pain, or damage, don't end the world. Or despair, or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man, and give some back. - Al Swearengen, Deadwood.

floo

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2015, 02:20:56 PM »
Quote from: Samuel on December 04, 2015, 02:15:22 PM
Then you are mistaken

Well hopefully I am not about to fall off my twig for a while yet. :)
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Hope

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2015, 03:30:34 PM »
Quote from: Floo on December 04, 2015, 02:20:56 PM
Well hopefully I am not about to fall off my twig for a while yet. :)
A year ago, I'd have said the same, Floo, but after my two incidents this year, my 'hope' is somewhat less certain.
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Are your, or your friends'/relatives', garages, lofts or sheds full of unused DIY gear, sewing/knitting machines or fabric and haberdashery stuff?

Lists of what is needed and a search engine to find your nearest collector (scroll to bottom for latter) are here:  http://www.twam.uk/donate-tools

floo

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #18 on: December 04, 2015, 03:36:54 PM »
Quote from: Hope on December 04, 2015, 03:30:34 PM
A year ago, I'd have said the same, Floo, but after my two incidents this year, my 'hope' is somewhat less certain.

Well if the forum hasn't heard from me for a while they can assume I kicked the bucket, as I don't appear to be able to stay away for too long.
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Red Giant

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2015, 12:38:48 AM »
Quote from: Hope on December 04, 2015, 11:22:44 AM
On a previous board I was a member of, one of the posters die and his daughter logged in, explained what had happened and kept us up to date with funeral and other developments for about 3 months before asking the mods to close the account.  Not sure that there is anything illegal about that - that's what I mean about the legal situation being complicated.
I was thinking about the bank accounts.
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jeremyp

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2015, 12:47:16 AM »
Quote from: Red Giant on December 05, 2015, 12:38:48 AM
I was thinking about the bank accounts.
Bank accounts are easy. The online account is an extension of the real account. I presume that the executor goes to the bank with documentary evidence that the person has died, distributes the money according to the will and closes the account.

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jeremyp

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2015, 12:47:48 AM »
By the way, I died in July but nobody seems to have noticed yet.
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Red Giant

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #22 on: December 05, 2015, 01:19:34 AM »
Quote from: jeremyp on December 05, 2015, 12:47:48 AM
By the way, I died in July but nobody seems to have noticed yet.
How long were you dead before you came back?

Just need to find the vaguely-appropriate prophecy and hey, you're God.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2015, 01:21:23 AM by Red Giant »
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Red Giant

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #23 on: December 05, 2015, 01:23:25 AM »
Quote from: Shaker on December 04, 2015, 01:16:08 PM
It's up to him of course but it's a shame that Richard Forrest doesn't post any more, as he's hugely knowledgeable and his posts were always fascinating. I do still see his name at the bottom of the page from time to time, but he hasn't posted in ages - since September 2013 :(
Time for a Noah's Ark thread?
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Samuel

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Re: Digital legacies
« Reply #24 on: December 05, 2015, 12:19:40 PM »
Quote from: jeremyp on December 05, 2015, 12:47:48 AM
By the way, I died in July but nobody seems to have noticed yet.

No, we did, it's just that none of us cared  ;)
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A lot of people don't believe that the loch ness monster exists. Now, I don't know anything about zooology, biology, geology, herpetology, evolutionary theory, evolutionary biology, marine biology, cryptozoology, palaeontology or archaeology... but I think... what if a dinosaur got into the lake?
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