Facebook allows immediate family members and representatives to memorialize or remove the account of a deceased person. This can be a difficult process emotionally, so it’s important to understand the options available.
Can you memorialize a Facebook account?
Yes, Facebook allows immediate family members to submit a request to memorialize someone’s account after they have passed away. This preserves some of the key parts of their profile while restricting access and preventing others from logging in.
Some of the key features of a memorialized Facebook account include:
- The word “Remembering” displayed next to the person’s name
- Ability for friends and family to still post and share memories on the memorialized Timeline
- Profile picture and cover photo preserved
- Content the person shared still visible
- Account removed from public spaces like friend suggestions
- No one can log into the memorialized account
Memorializing an account can be a good middle ground option if you want to keep some of your loved one’s memories and profile visible, while protecting the account and restricting access to others.
How do you memorialize someone’s Facebook account?
To memorialize someone’s Facebook account after their death:
- Go to the Memorialization Request Form and choose “Memorialize Account”
- You’ll need to provide the person’s full name, date of birth, and date of death
- Facebook will ask for a link to an obituary or news article as proof of death
- Provide your relationship to the deceased person
- Include a valid form of ID for verification
- Facebook will review the request and memorialize the account if approved
- Once memorialized, immediate family can manage posts, tags, and memorialization settings
Facebook aims to process memorialization requests within 24 hours. The account will get memorialized pending any necessary verification. They allow immediate family members to manage the memorialization settings.
Can you delete a deceased person’s Facebook account?
Yes, the option exists to permanently delete a deceased person’s Facebook account. This will remove the profile and all associated content.
Unlike memorializing an account, deleting it is permanent. The person’s profile, photos, posts, comments, and all other data gets permanently erased.
Some reasons immediate family may choose to delete a deceased relative’s Facebook account include:
- They do not want the account turning into an online memorial
- To protect sensitive information or photos the person shared
- Prevent messages from automatically sending on birthdays after the death
- Stop painful reminders and memories from appearing in feeds
Deleting the account wipes its existence and prevents anyone from accessing it again in the future.
How do you delete a deceased person’s Facebook account?
To fully delete someone’s Facebook account after they have passed away:
- Go to Facebook’s Memorialization Request Form
- Select “Delete Account” instead of memorialize
- Enter the deceased person’s name, birthday, date of death, and your relationship
- Provide a copy of published obituary or link as proof of death
- Upload a photo ID for identity verification
- Facebook will review the deletion request within 24 hours
- Once verified and deleted, the account and all associated data is permanently erased
Facebook aims to review requests quickly, but the deletion process can take up to a few days. Logins are disabled during the review period before permanent deletion. Content may still be accessible via other accounts.
Who can memorialize or delete a Facebook account?
Facebook only allows certain immediate family members to memorialize or delete an account. This includes:
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Parents
- Children
- Siblings
- Grandparents
- Grandchildren
If you are not an immediate family member, you can request the account be memorialized but will need authorization from someone on the above list. For deletions, authorization is required in all cases.
What verification is required to memorialize or delete an account?
To prevent unauthorized access, Facebook requires verification to memorialize or delete an account:
- Proof of death – published obituary/death notice link or news article
- Verification of your relationship to the deceased
- A photo ID confirming your identity
This ensures appropriate family members have access and prevents unauthorized account access. Facebook aims to review requests within 24 hours pending verification of all requirements.
Is there a time limit to memorialize or delete an account?
There is no time limit for immediate family to request having an account memorialized or deleted. Facebook allows these account changes at any point after someone passes away.
However, accounts that remain inactive for 2+ years enter a memorialized state by default. After the account is memorialized by Facebook, content remains visible but the profile cannot be managed.
So it’s recommended immediate family submit deletion or memorialization requests sooner, to properly manage the account and timeline on their own terms.
What happens if a deceased person’s account is hacked?
If a deceased person’s Facebook account gets memorialized but is later hacked or accessed by someone else, family can take these steps:
- Report the account has been compromised using this form
- Select “Hacked or Unauthorized Access” as the issue
- Provide information on the unauthorized access and that account owner is deceased
- Upload ID and memorialization verification again
- Facebook will review the issue and resolve unauthorized access
Reporting unauthorized access right away can help regain control and restrict access. Avoiding password reuse across sites and enabling two-factor authentication where possible can also limit hacking risk.
Can you reactivate a memorialized account?
Once an account has been memorialized, Facebook does not allow reactivating it or using it to log in again. The “Remembering” designation is permanent.
If immediate family need to manage content or change memorialization settings, they can do so from their own account using the memorialization management tools.
The only option to reuse a memorialized account would be creating a new account with the same name. But this would be separate from the memorialized profile.
How are Facebook notifications handled for memorialized/deleted accounts?
When an account gets memorialized or deleted:
- Email and text notifications immediately stop being sent
- Reminders about the person’s birthday are disabled
- Account no longer appears in suggestions to add as a friend
- Friends may still tag the person in new posts/photos
- New friend requests and messages stop being received
These changes help protect privacy and prevent hurtful reminders about the deceased. Immediate family should notify Facebook of any unwanted notifications received.
What happens to a Facebook account if no one memorializes it?
If no immediate family members request to memorialize or delete an account, it can remain active but becomes “memorialized by Facebook” after about two years of inactivity.
In this memorialized state:
- “Remembering” added next to the name
- Profile and timeline remain visible to the public
- No one can log into the account
- Existing friends continue seeing posts in their feed
- Account removed from public areas like recommendations
This preserves the account while protecting privacy. But without family access, the timeline can’t be moderated or managed. So it’s better for family to submit a memorialization request proactively.
Can you reactivate a Facebook account after deleting?
Once a Facebook account is permanently deleted, there is no way to reactivate or reinstate it. The profile and all associated data gets removed from Facebook’s systems.
However, someone could sign up for a new account using the same name and info as the deleted profile. This would essentially create a new duplicate account, not restore the original.
Conclusion
Facebook provides specific processes for memorializing or deleting the account of someone who has passed away. While this can be emotionally difficult, memorializing the account allows some ongoing access while preventing logins. Fully deleting the account erases all traces of it.
By submitting authorized requests and required proof, immediate family members can manage a deceased loved one’s account to protect privacy and prevent misuse. Handling notifications and keeping memories visible to close friends can make the process more emotionally manageable.
With over 2 billion users, Facebook aims to balance the privacy and emotional needs of families after a death. Understanding the memorialization and deletion options available can help decide the right approach.
Managing a deceased person’s digital legacy can be challenging. But following Facebook’s guidelines for verified requests helps families gain control and protect their loved one’s memory.
While looking at that person’s profile may remain emotionally painful, memorialization provides some ability to share positive memories. And deleting the account completely removes this possibility of painful reminders resurfacing.
Facebook emphasizes working with and supporting families of deceased users during difficult times. Submitting authorized requests and providing complete verification helps ensure appropriate account memorialization or deletion.
Families dealing with loss face many tough decisions and emotions. With Facebook’s detailed processes, memorializing or deleting an account can be handled to respect privacy and grieving.
Remembering a deceased loved one will always carry sadness. But Facebook’s tools aim to also make space for community, memories and healing.
Through authorized requests from immediate family, full verification, and compassionate review, Facebook can help protect users’ privacy and honor their memory in digital spaces.
While emotions remain complex, memorialized and deleted accounts grant families some control. And Facebook’s dedicated support provides guidance for navigating unimaginable grief.
Losing someone affects us forever. On Facebook, transparent procedures grant families ways to memorialize or let go entirely.
This balance aids healing while preventing unauthorized changes. Because digital legacies still represent real people.
So Facebook collaborates with grieving families to memorialize or delete accounts. They aim to approach loss with empathy, respecting users’ privacy and memory.
Nothing takes away the pain of losing someone. But Facebook’s tools grant families control, community and closure.