Jaesim Blog
A Loved One's Digital Legacy: Sorting Accounts and Photos
재심 / Blog / A Loved One's Digital Legacy: Sorting Accounts and Photos
Even after someone is gone, they leave behind countless digital traces. Message threads, photos on social media, an inbox, cloud albums. It can be daunting to know what to do with them. There's no need to rush, but it helps to know the order.
First — back up photos and videos
There's one part of digital sorting that is genuinely worth doing early: photos and videos.
If a cloud account closes, a subscription lapses, or a phone is reset, the photos inside can vanish beyond recovery. Before anything else, copy their photos and videos to a computer or separate storage, all in one place. That backup becomes the starting point for a memory record later.
What traces exist
Over time, take it slowly and check the following.
- Social accounts — Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, blogs
- Email — important correspondence, photo attachments, services they signed up for
- Cloud — photos and documents in Google Photos, iCloud, or other services
- Subscriptions and payments — streaming and other auto-renewing services (which need stopping)
Accessing accounts
If you don't know the password, use the platform's process for families.
- Google: if they set up "Inactive Account Manager," data goes to a chosen person. If not, family can request access separately.
- Apple: a named "Digital Legacy Contact" can receive data with a death certificate and access key.
- Facebook and Instagram: you can request memorialization or deletion.
Most require documents like a death certificate and take time to process, so handle the urgent things first — such as stopping auto-payments.
What to keep, what to delete
You don't have to clear everything. Social media left as a memorialized account can become a place where those who remember the person come to visit. Some message threads and a few photos are worth keeping for a long time.
What to keep and what to delete is like sorting belongings. Decide slowly, once your heart is ready. Moving a few precious photos and conversations into a memorial space like Jaesim keeps one place to meet the person, even amid scattered digital traces.
Frequently asked questions
Should I delete their social media accounts?+
You don't have to decide right now. Facebook and Instagram let you turn an account into a 'memorialized' one that keeps the posts, and full deletion is also possible. For family, that space can become a place to grieve, so deciding once your heart settles is never too late.
I don't have the password. Can I still access the account?+
Most platforms have a process for families. Google has 'Inactive Account Manager,' Apple has 'Digital Legacy,' and with documents like a death certificate you can receive data or close an account. It takes time, though, so handle the urgent things first.
What should I do first?+
Back up the photos and videos. Sorting accounts can wait, but photos in the cloud or on a phone can vanish if an account closes or a subscription lapses. Copying their photos to one place is the first and most important task.
When you are ready to keep the memory going
Start with one short note, a photo, or a date you don't want to lose. Jaesim keeps memory records and anniversary reminders together, free.