Handling Online Accounts & Social Media After a Death
In today’s digital world, many of us leave behind an extensive online presence. From social media and email accounts to banking, subscriptions, and digital memberships, a person’s digital footprint can be wide-reaching. After a loved one passes away, managing their online accounts can feel like an overwhelming task. This guide is here to help you navigate these steps with care and respect, ensuring your loved one’s digital legacy is handled appropriately.
1. Identifying & Accessing Online Accounts
Before taking action, it can be helpful to compile a list of your loved one’s online accounts. Many people have an extensive digital presence, and managing these accounts is an important step in settling their affairs.
Some of the most common types of accounts to check include:
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Social Media & Communication Platforms;
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Email Services;
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Financial & Payment Services;
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Utility & Subscription Services;
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Online Shopping & Delivery Services;
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Professional & Business Accounts;
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Health & Insurance Accounts;
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Memberships & Loyalty Programs;
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Other Digital Services & Accounts
Social Media & Communication Platforms
Many people use multiple platforms for staying connected. Some accounts may need to be closed or memorialised:
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Facebook
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Instagram
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Twitter/X
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LinkedIn
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Snapchat
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TikTok
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Reddit
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Pinterest
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Discord
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WhatsApp
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Telegram
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WeChat
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Skype
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Viber
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Signal
Email Services
Email accounts often hold key information about other digital accounts and may be necessary to access or close certain services:
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Gmail
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Outlook/Hotmail
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Yahoo Mail
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iCloud Mail
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ProtonMail
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AOL Mail
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Zoho Mail
Financial & Payment Services
Banking, investment, and payment platforms should be handled with care to prevent unauthorised transactions:
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Online banking accounts (e.g., HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds, etc.)
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Credit card portals (e.g., American Express, Mastercard, Visa)
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PayPal / Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay / Venmo / Cash App
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Revolut / Monzo / Starling Bank (Digital Banks)
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Cryptocurrency wallets & exchanges (e.g., Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, Ledger, MetaMask)
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Investment platforms (e.g., Hargreaves Lansdown, Vanguard, Fidelity, eToro, Trading 212)
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Pension management portals
Utility & Subscription Services
Cancelling these services can help prevent unnecessary charges.
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Mobile phone plans (e.g., EE, Vodafone, O2, Three, Giffgaff, etc.)
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Broadband & internet providers
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Electricity, water, and gas accounts
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TV licence & cable services (Sky, Virgin Media, BT, Freeview Play, etc.)
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Streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV, NOW TV, etc.)
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Music subscriptions (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, etc.)
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Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Mega, etc.)
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Software subscriptions (Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, etc.)
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Online gaming accounts (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo, Steam, Epic Games, etc.)
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Subscription boxes (e.g., Amazon Subscribe & Save, meal kits, beauty boxes, etc.)
Online Shopping & Delivery Services
Some platforms store payment information, making it essential to manage them properly.
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Amazon
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eBay
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Etsy
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Argos
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Wish
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Deliveroo / Uber Eats / Just Eat
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Grocery delivery services (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Ocado, etc.)
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Fashion & retail accounts (ASOS, Next, Zara, John Lewis, etc.)
Professional & Business Accounts
If your loved one ran a business or was self-employed, these accounts may need special attention.
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Website domains & hosting (GoDaddy, Bluehost, Squarespace, WordPress, Wix etc.)
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Freelancing platforms (Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour, etc.)
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Business bank accounts
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Accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, etc.)
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Online store platforms (Shopify, Etsy, eBay Business, WooCommerce, etc.)
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Job recruitment profiles (Indeed, Glassdoor, Totaljobs, etc.)
Health & Insurance Accounts
These accounts may hold important medical and financial information.
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NHS / Private medical records portal
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Health & fitness apps (MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Garmin Connect, etc.)
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Health insurance & life insurance providers
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Car insurance, home insurance, and other policies
Memberships & Loyalty Programs
Some memberships may continue charging fees unless cancelled.
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Supermarket loyalty cards (Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Boots Advantage Card, etc.)
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Airline loyalty programs (British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Flying Club, etc.)
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Car breakdown cover (AA, RAC, Green Flag, etc.)
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Charity donations & sponsorships (JustGiving, GoFundMe, etc.)
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Gym memberships & fitness classes
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Library memberships
Other Digital Services & Accounts
Some accounts may not be immediately obvious but still hold personal data.
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Forum memberships & online communities
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Online education platforms (Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, etc.)
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AI assistants & smart home devices (Amazon Alexa, Google Nest, Apple HomeKit, etc.)
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Car parking apps (RingGo, PayByPhone, JustPark, etc.)
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Dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Match.com, etc.)
How to Identify Additional Accounts
If you’re unsure which accounts your loved one had, try the following steps:
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Check their email inbox – Look for account notifications, password reset emails, and payment receipts.
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Review bank statements – Recurring payments may indicate active subscriptions.
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Look at their devices – Saved logins in browsers or password managers can provide clues.
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Check with close friends and family – They may be aware of accounts that are not immediately obvious.
2. Handling Social Media Accounts
Many families find comfort in keeping a loved one’s social media accounts as a place to remember and share memories. Others may prefer to close them completely. Each platform has its own policies for handling a deceased person’s account:
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Facebook & Instagram – These platforms allow accounts to be memorialised, meaning the profile remains visible but is protected from future logins. Alternatively, a family member can request the account be permanently removed.
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Twitter & LinkedIn – These accounts can be deactivated by contacting the platforms with proof of death.
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YouTube & Google Accounts – If the deceased set up Google’s Inactive Account Manager, their chosen contacts will have access. Otherwise, family members can request account deletion.
If you would like to keep a social media account active as a memorial, it’s important to adjust privacy settings and monitor interactions to ensure it remains a respectful space.
3. Managing Email Accounts
Email accounts often serve as the gateway to many other online services. If you need to access or close a loved one’s email account, consider the following steps:
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Contact the email provider with proof of death and your relationship to the deceased. Most providers have specific procedures for handling these requests.
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If you have legal access, check for important messages and close any unnecessary accounts linked to the email address.
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Be mindful of privacy laws—accessing an account without explicit permission may breach a provider’s terms of service.
If in doubt, seek legal advice before attempting to log in to or manage an email account.
4. Closing or Transferring Financial Accounts
Handling online banking, investment accounts, and payment services (such as PayPal) requires careful attention. In most cases, you will need to provide:
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A death certificate
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Proof of your relationship to the deceased
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Any relevant account information
Banks and financial institutions typically require formal notification before they can freeze or close an account. Some providers may request further legal documentation, such as probate or executor details, depending on the account type.
5. Cancelling Digital Subscriptions & Services
To avoid ongoing charges, it is important to cancel any digital subscriptions that were in your loved one’s name. These may include:
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Streaming services – Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime
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Mobile phone plans – Check with the provider about cancellation policies
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Cloud storage – Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud
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Online shopping accounts – eBay, Amazon, delivery subscriptions
In most cases, you will need to contact customer support and provide proof of death to process cancellations. If subscriptions were linked to a shared family plan, consider transferring ownership where possible.
6. Protecting Against Identity Theft
Even after someone has passed away, identity theft can still be a risk. To protect your loved one’s information, consider the following precautions:
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Notify credit reference agencies to prevent fraudulent activity
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Close unnecessary accounts as soon as possible
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Be cautious of scam emails or fake requests relating to the deceased’s digital identity
If you notice any unusual activity or suspect identity fraud, contact the relevant authorities for advice.
7. Planning Your Own Digital Legacy
While handling a loved one’s digital affairs, you may start thinking about your own online presence and how you’d like it to be managed in the future. Some steps you can take include:
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Keeping a secure record of important accounts and login details
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Using digital legacy tools – Services like Google and Facebook allow you to nominate someone to manage your accounts if you pass away
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Including digital assets in your will – Consider specifying how you’d like your online accounts to be handled in your estate planning
Making these arrangements can ease the burden on your loved ones and ensure your digital legacy is handled according to your wishes.
Need Support? We’re Here to Help
We understand that managing digital accounts after a death can be a challenging and emotional task. If you need guidance, Rounce Funeral Services is here to support you with compassion and care.
For further advice or assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always here to help you through this difficult time.
