How to Bequeath Your Facebook Page

Facebook users can now leave their page to a friend or relative when they die.

A new setting, initially only available in the USA, allows a person to either permanently delete their account after their death or to pass control of it to someone else.

Anyone bequeathed an account will be able to write a post to display at the top of the memorialised timeline, respond to new friend requests and update profile and cover photos. They may also have permission to download an archive of the photos and posts. But they will not be able to log in as the dead person or read private messages.

The move follows a series of cases where families were denied access to their loved one’s page.

A Facebook spokesman said: “When a person passes away, their account can become a memorial of their life, friendships and experience. We hope this work will help people experience loss with a greater sense of possibility, comfort and support.”

Facebook is a social networking website which a record one billion people worldwide logged on to on August 24. If you are on Facebook, please ‘like’ www.facebook.com/HeritageWillWriting.