Do You Know How To Access Digital Assets After A Bereavement?
asks Peter Clarke of PC PAL
Have you ever stopped to think about your digital legacy? - anything from photos stored on a computer or in the cloud to eBooks, iTunes music and 'memories' on social media like Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp.
No-one likes to think of dying or losing a loved one but spending some time planning your digital legacy now could save heartache for you or a loved one in the future. In part one of this article we look at items you think you might own but actually, you don't.
Two common digital resources that many people use are iTunes and Facebook.
Did you know that some items such as music in iTunes is not transferable on death? This is because you are not buying the music, as you do with a CD, but you are buying a non transferable licence which allows you to listen to the music. When the owner of an iTunes account dies iTunes deactivates the account and the music is no longer accessible.
Many people have a Facebook account where they share 'memories' - photos, thoughts, ideas etc. When a person dies Facebook memorialise the account and put 'remembering' in front of the account name. People can still share memories and add to the account but no-one can see private messages or post in the deceased's name.
In part two of this article I will discuss how to access a password protected computer that belonged to someone who is no longer with us so you can retrieve those precious photos etc.
If you want to discuss this further please don’t hesitate to call me.
