Social Media Legacy Accounts vs Living Users

Yes, projections suggest that within the next 50 years, Facebook’s legacy (memorialized) accounts could outnumber its living users, but this is a model-based estimate, not a confirmed count. Whether this actually happens depends on user growth, platform policies, and how people manage their digital afterlives.

Background: Where the Prediction Comes From

The idea gained traction from a 2019 academic study by the Oxford Internet Institute. Researchers modeled Facebook’s user base using UN population data and Facebook’s own growth reports. They estimated that by 2070, the number of dead users could reach 4.9 billion—more than the projected living user base of about 4.7 billion at that time. The study was a thought experiment, not a company forecast, and it assumed that Facebook would stop growing and that no one would delete or transfer accounts. Since then, Facebook’s growth has slowed in some regions but continues in others, so the exact crossover point remains uncertain.

How Legacy Accounts Work Today

Major platforms have formal processes for handling accounts of deceased users. Facebook and Instagram allow a “memorialized� account, which adds “Remembering� to the profile name and prevents anyone from logging in. A legacy contact—someone chosen by the user while alive—can manage the profile, pin a tribute post, or download data. Without a legacy contact, a verified family member can request memorialization. Twitter (now X) does not memorialize; it removes accounts of deceased users upon verification by a family member or authorized person. LinkedIn similarly closes accounts with proof of death. Google’s Inactive Account Manager lets users decide what happens to their data after a period of inactivity—it can be shared with trusted contacts or deleted.

How to Choose a Legacy Contact

Selecting a legacy contact is a practical decision, not just an emotional one. Consider these factors:

• Trust and digital literacy: The person should be comfortable with privacy settings and able to follow platform instructions.
• Willingness to act: Ask before naming someone; not everyone is comfortable managing a deceased person’s digital presence.
• Alignment with your wishes: Do you want your profile to remain as a memorial, or would you prefer it deleted? Choose someone who will honor that.
• Access to your devices: A legacy contact can’t log in, but they can download data if you’ve enabled that option. For full account access, you’d need to share passwords, which is generally discouraged for security reasons.

You can change your legacy contact at any time in your platform settings. It’s also wise to document your wishes in a will or a digital estate plan, since platform policies can change.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One frequent misconception is that a legacy contact can post as the deceased person. They cannot—they can only pin a post, update the profile picture, and respond to friend requests. Another issue is that memorialization often requires proof of death, such as a death certificate or obituary link, which can be a bureaucratic hurdle for grieving families. Additionally, if a user had two-factor authentication enabled, the legacy contact may not be able to access the account at all, because the platform cannot bypass security. There’s also the problem of “zombie� accounts—profiles that remain active because no one reports the death. These can become targets for scammers who harvest personal information.

Comparisons: Facebook vs. Other Platforms

Facebook’s memorialization is the most developed, with a dedicated team and a legacy contact system. Instagram, owned by Meta, follows a similar model but lacks a legacy contact feature—only a verified family member can request memorialization. Twitter/X simply deletes accounts upon request, which some families find abrupt. LinkedIn’s policy is similar to Twitter’s but with more bureaucratic steps. Google’s Inactive Account Manager is unique because it applies to all Google services, not just one social network. For users who want a unified approach, third-party digital legacy services (like Everplans or TrustedWill) offer templates and storage for passwords, but they are not integrated with the platforms themselves.

Costs and Safety Considerations

There is no cost to memorialize an account on any major platform. However, there are hidden costs: time spent gathering documents, emotional labor, and potential legal fees if you hire a lawyer to handle digital assets. From a safety perspective, you should never share your password with a legacy contact in advance, because that violates most platforms’ terms of service and could lead to your account being locked. Instead, use the platform’s official tools. Be aware that memorialized accounts are still visible to the public unless you’ve adjusted privacy settings, so sensitive photos or posts may remain accessible. For that reason, some people choose to have their accounts deleted upon death rather than memorialized.

Alternatives to Legacy Accounts

If you don’t want a legacy account, you have several options:

• Deletion: You can state in your will that all accounts should be deleted. Family members can then request deletion with proof of death.
• Data download: You can download your data now and store it on a personal drive, then have a trusted person delete the online account.
• Digital will: Some services allow you to create a legally binding document that specifies who gets access to your digital files and accounts.
• Do nothing: If you take no action, your accounts may remain active indefinitely, which could lead to identity theft or unwanted tagging.

Each option has trade-offs. Memorialization preserves your social history but leaves a public footprint. Deletion is clean but erases memories that family might want. A hybrid approach—memorializing on Facebook but deleting on Twitter—is common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will legacy accounts really outnumber living users?
It’s a projection, not a certainty. The Oxford study’s model assumed no growth and no account deletions. If Facebook’s user base continues to grow in developing countries, or if platforms introduce automatic deletion after a set period, the crossover may never happen. As of 2024, Facebook has over 3 billion monthly active users, and the number of memorialized accounts is a small fraction of that.

Can I leave my social media passwords in my will?
Yes, but it’s not recommended. Most platforms’ terms of service prohibit account sharing, and a will is a public document once probated, so your passwords would become visible. Instead, use a password manager with a designated emergency contact or a digital legacy service.

What happens to my Facebook account if I die without a legacy contact?
A family member can request memorialization by providing proof of death, such as a death certificate or obituary link. Facebook will then memorialize the account, but no one will be able to manage it. If no one requests anything, the account remains as-is indefinitely.

Can a legacy contact see my private messages?
No. Legacy contacts can download data, but that data includes posts, photos, and profile info—not private messages. To access messages, you’d need to share your password, which is against policy and risky.

Is there a way to have my accounts automatically deleted when I die?
Google’s Inactive Account Manager can be set to delete your data after a period of inactivity. For Facebook, you can instruct your legacy contact to delete the account after memorialization, but the platform does not offer an automatic deletion trigger. Some third-party services can send a death notice to platforms, but they rely on someone reporting your death.

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