How to Set Up and Secure Your Digital Legacy

Legacy planning is a critical step to take as we get older — and it includes securing your digital and online legacy. If you’re not sure what a digital legacy is, you’re not alone. After all, the internet wasn’t widely used until the end of the last century. In short, a digital legacy is all of the online data left behind by someone after they have passed. That includes everything from family videos and Facebook pages to Netflix and PayPal accounts.

The big question is not only how your family will find these accounts, but how will they access them — and what should be done with them. 

Digital Estate Planning Basics

The first step is to make a list of any online accounts you may have. Use your search history and bookmarks to jog your memory, if necessary, and don’t forget any accounts or apps that you use exclusively on your phone or tablet. You’ll be looking for things like:

• Email accounts
• Social media accounts
• Any site you maintain such as a blog
• Banking or investment accounts
• Streaming services
• Accounts on sites where you may have money, such as Venmo or PayPal
• Any website or app where you may be paying annual fees, such as Amazon Prime.
• Any site where you may have photos or videos stored, such as Google Drive

Create a Legacy Contact Wherever Possible

Many technology companies allow you to establish a legacy contact by accessing settings and designating a friend or family member. In the case of Apple, for example, your legacy contact will have access to your account for three years.

Some social media sites, such as Facebook, offer legacy contacts the option of either memorializing or closing an account. If the account is memorialized, the word “remembering” is added before the account holder’s name — and the site can never be taken down.

Making Legacy Planning Easy on Your Loved Ones

Just like with the rest of your estate, you want to make things as easy as possible for your loved ones. That means not only giving them access to your accounts — either by establishing legacy contacts or providing them passwords — but also letting them know what your wishes are. 

An efficient way to do this is by creating a social media will that outlines exactly what you’d like to have happen to your social media accounts. Here’s a template by the Digital Legacy Association that, although not legally binding, clearly indicates how you would like your accounts handled. 

Your Digital Legacy in Photos and Videos

You’ve probably already made an effort to convert old family movies from film to VCR tapes and perhaps to digital. It’s a time-consuming and often costly process. It can also be incredibly frustrating as you see systems and devices become obsolete.

Photos are easier to deal with because they require less memory. If all of your photos are stored on your phone or computer, they can be passed on to one person by simply giving them access to your devices. You could also use a family photo-sharing site, such as Google Photos Dropbox, or Apple Family Sharing. 

Experts caution, however, that these solutions might not be as long-lasting as one might hope. Over time, people forget where photos are stored on the cloud and lose passwords. What’s more, technology is constantly changing. The situation is even more difficult when it comes to storing video, which can require purchasing cloud storage. 

Although it might seem counterintuitive, many experts suggest curating your family photos and then actually printing photos out for family members. The National Archives stresses the importance of making high-quality prints and storing them in preservation-quality boxes in cool, dry areas.  

Videos are more difficult to preserve as there is no technology-free physical backup. The best you can do is to curate your family videos and then keep one copy on your computer while putting other copies on separate media and/or storing them on the cloud. Here’s a detailed guide by the Library of Congress. 

Legacy Planning Review and Reminders

Digital legacy planning can be a messy business. But it will be much easier for your loved ones if you put effort into organizing, updating, curating, and making your wishes known. Don’t try to copy every photo you ever took. Close accounts you no longer use. Make sure videos are properly labeled. Establish legacy contacts wherever possible. Maintain — and update — a list of passwords.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, make sure at least one family has the passcode or password to your computer, phone, and tablet. 

Making Memories at Monroe Village

Monroe Village is a Life Plan Community in New Jersey focused on a healthy and active lifestyle. With events and amenities offered through LivWell, our holistic wellness program, you can boost your health while being a part of a vibrant community. Our heated indoor pool, fitness center, walking paths, and healthy onsite dining options make it easy to reach your goals while enjoying everyday life. Check out our services and amenities to see the many options each day brings from pickleball games and balance classes to movie nights and wine tastings. Contact us today to learn more.