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Social Network Facebook

Facebook's dearly departed can pass on their profile to loved ones with new feature

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

February 12, 2015 | 2 min read

Facebook has addressed the recurring issue of deceased members' accounts being in limbo with the implementation of a feature allowing profiles to be passed on to loved ones.

The social network has green lit beyond-the-grave use of accounts by enabling members to select a ‘legacy contact’ to inherit control of the profile. Upon receipt of death, Facebook will grant the individual control with the word ‘Remembering’ to be inserted before the username in tribute of the departed.

Inheritors can memorialise the account, by posting updates, changing the profile and cover photo and accepting new requests for friendship from those yet to be connected to the account.

Most appealing will be the ability to download the entirety of the profile’s photos, posts and information – excluding private messages which will remain inaccessible.

A Facebook statement read: “We’re introducing legacy contacts in the US first and look forward to expanding to more countries. Setting up a legacy contact is completely optional.

“Our team at Facebook is grateful and humbled to be working on these improvements. We hope this work will help people experience loss with a greater sense of possibility, comfort and support.”

The feature will launch in the US initially with a greater international roll-out planned for the second half of 2015.

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