Dear friends,
Social media platforms have become central repositories of our digital lives, containing conversations, connections, and memories that often matter deeply to those we leave behind. Yet these platforms were built for the living, not the dead, creating unique challenges for digital legacy planning.
When someone passes away, their social media accounts often become unexpected memorials. Friends and family gather in comment threads, share memories, and process grief through the very platform where they once shared everyday moments. Understanding how to prepare for this transition is essential.
The primary challenges families face include memorial accounts become read-only with no login access, linkedin does not provide legacy contact designation, and premium subscriptions and features lost upon memorialization. These technical barriers often prevent loved ones from accessing important information, preserving memories, or even closing accounts when desired.
DeathNote helps you navigate these complexities by providing secure credential storage, clear instructions for account access, and guidance on platform-specific policies. You can document your preferences for account management, designate trusted contacts, and ensure your digital legacy reflects your intentions rather than platform defaults.
Beyond technical access, consider what messages or information you'd want shared through these platforms. Many people use social media to announce deaths and share memorial details, making it essential to have clear guidance for those managing your accounts posthumously.
Platform Overview
Primary Use
Professional networking, career development, job searching, business connections, thought leadership
Account Types
Personal profiles, LinkedIn Premium, company page admin, recruiter accounts
Data Types
Work history, connections, recommendations, endorsements, posts, articles, messages, job applications
Access Challenges
- Memorial accounts become read-only with no login access
- LinkedIn does not provide legacy contact designation
- Premium subscriptions and features lost upon memorialization
- Company page admin access cannot be transferred posthumously
- Professional recommendations and endorsements frozen after memorialization
Inheritance Guidance
Step 1: Decide Between Memorialization and Profile Removal
Choose whether you want your LinkedIn profile memorialized (preserved as a professional legacy) or completely removed. Memorialization maintains your work history, recommendations, and contributions as a read-only tribute. Document this preference clearly in your DeathNote.
Step 2: Document Login Credentials for Family Access
Store your LinkedIn email, password, phone number, and 2FA backup codes in DeathNote. While LinkedIn offers memorialization, family may need access to download your professional history, manage company pages, or submit a proper memorial request.
Step 3: Export Your Professional History
Go to Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy > Get a copy of your data to download your complete LinkedIn archive. This includes work history, connections, messages, recommendations, and all posts. Save this archive securely as a record of your professional legacy.
Step 4: Transfer Company Page and Group Management
For LinkedIn company pages or groups you manage, add additional admins while you're alive. Go to page/group admin settings and promote trusted colleagues to admin roles. After death, no one can access these without prior delegation.
Step 5: Preserve Professional Accomplishments
Ensure your LinkedIn profile is complete and accurate before death. Add all significant roles, accomplishments, certifications, and recommendations. This becomes your professional legacy and may be valuable for family understanding your career impact.
Related Resources
Twitter/X Account Legacy
Public discourse platform professional presence management
GitHub Repository Inheritance
Professional code portfolio and open source legacy
Professional Legacy Template
Message template for professional connections and colleagues
How DeathNote Works
Learn about professional credential management
Facebook Memorial Planning
Personal social media memorial account management
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my LinkedIn profile after I die?
LinkedIn offers account memorialization, which converts your profile into a read-only memorial. The profile displays 'In Memoriam' and preserves your work history, recommendations, and posts, but no one can log in or make changes. Family or colleagues can request memorialization by contacting LinkedIn support with proof of death.
Can family access my LinkedIn messages and connections after death?
Once a LinkedIn account is memorialized, messages and private content become inaccessible. If you want family to access your professional communications, provide login credentials through DeathNote before memorialization, or download your data archive while alive. The archive includes all messages and connection details.
What happens to LinkedIn company pages I manage?
Company pages require active admin management. If you're the sole admin and your account is memorialized or deleted, the company page may become unmanageable. Add additional admins to all company pages you manage while alive, and document who should take over in your DeathNote.
Should I keep my professional LinkedIn profile as a legacy?
Many people choose to preserve their LinkedIn profile as a lasting record of their professional accomplishments, recommendations, and industry contributions. This can be meaningful for family, colleagues, and future generations understanding your career impact. However, if you prefer privacy, you can request profile deletion instead.