Though maudlin to consider, it's important to think about what happens to your email and social networking accounts when you die. Will your relatives be able to gain access, or will the accounts simply fade away? That depends.Photo by 10ch.
Weblog MakeUseOf looks into the subject, examining several of the most popular web services out there. Email services like Hotmail and Gmail allow next of kin to access accounts of deceased individuals as long as the family can provide proof of death. Other services, like MySpace, will simply delete the account upon request. Facebook will also delete an account if asked, but also goes the extra mile and turns the user's page into a memorial page if the family desires.
Hit up the post for more steps various email and social networking sites take when notified of a user's death, and read up on making post-mortem plans for your online life. Would you want access to a deceased family member's accounts, or would you rather they were just deleted? Talk about it in the comments.
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