A new feature introduced by the social networking giant facebook today allows users to choose a ‘legacy contact’ who will inherit your account after you die.
“Facebook is a place to share and connect with friends and family. For many of us, it’s also a place to remember and honor those we’ve lost,” said a Facebook blog post announcing the update.
Previously, Facebook accounts of deceased members were frozen once the site noticed their owners had passed away. In its stead, a memorial page used to be created.
“By talking to people who have experienced loss, we realised there is more we can do to support those who are grieving and those who want a say in what happens to their account after death,” the blog added.
The person who inherits the account will be able to update the profile and cover picture, and respond to friend requests from family members and friends who were not yet connected on Facebook. They will also be able to access photo and post archives.
The new feature will be available in the US initially then all over the world.
Google was the first to introduce the feature back in 2013, allowing users to choose heirs for Gmail, cloud storage and other services.
