Google and Facebook Account Settings: What happens to your accounts after you're gone? Set up your digital will today.

Google and Facebook Account Settings: If something were to happen to you, who would manage your Google and Facebook accounts? Secure your data by setting up a digital will.

Nowadays, our entire lives are online. Whether it is our photos, emails, or banking information, everything is stored in accounts like Google and Facebook. Have you ever wondered what would happen to these accounts if something happened to you? How would your family manage them? The answer to this question is a 'digital will.' This is a setting that allows you to decide in advance who will receive your data after you are gone. Let’s look at the details—how it works and how to set it up.

First, let's talk about Google. Google has a feature called "Inactive Account Manager." It allows you to decide what should happen if you do not use your Google account for a specific period. You can set this duration anywhere between 3 and 18 months. Once this period elapses without account activity, Google first sends a message to your phone number and secondary email to check if you are okay. If there is no response, notifications are sent to the people you have designated.

The best part of this feature is that you can designate up to 10 trusted contacts. You can specify exactly what each person gets access to; for instance, you could grant your wife access to emails and photos, while giving your son access only to Google Drive. Additionally, you can choose to have your entire account automatically deleted after that period. To set this up, visit myaccount.google.com, go to the "Data & Privacy" section, and select the "Make a plan for your digital legacy" option.

Now, regarding Facebook: on that platform, this feature is known as "Legacy Contact." You can choose a specific person to manage your profile after you pass away. Once your profile is designated this way, the word "Remembering" appears next to your name. The person you select cannot delete your old posts or read your messages; however, they can change your profile photo and post updates to inform others. Alternatively, you can choose to have your entire account permanently deleted after your passing, rather than converting it into a memorialized profile.

To configure this setting on Facebook, click on your profile photo and go to "Settings and Privacy." Select "Settings," then navigate to the "Accounts Center" and click on "Personal Details." From there, select the "Memorialization" option within the "Account Ownership and Control" section.

It is crucial to note that simply configuring this setting is not enough; you should also inform the chosen person that you have entrusted them with this responsibility. If they are unaware of this, they will be unable to take action when the need arises.