Facebook Profiles Of Dead Users Set To Remain Public After Death

Facebook's Dead User Profiles Set To Remain Public
The Facebook Inc. logo is displayed an Apple Inc. iPad Air past water droplets in this arranged photograph in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. Facebook Inc. is expected to release earnings data on Jan. 29. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facebook Inc. logo is displayed an Apple Inc. iPad Air past water droplets in this arranged photograph in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. Facebook Inc. is expected to release earnings data on Jan. 29. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg via Getty Images

After much deliberation Facebook is changing the way in which it treats the profiles of deceased members.

Up until now a 'memorialised' page could only be viewed by people who friends of the dead person.

From now on this will change so the profile will remain on the same settings as when they were alive.

Facebook said on their blog: "Some of the people who reach out to us are grieving the death of a friend or family member, and they usually ask for their loved one's timeline to be memorialised.

The presented the social media site with a number of questions as to how approach the delicate subject.

They added: "How might people feel? Are we honouring the wishes and legacy of the person who passed away? Are we serving people who are grieving the loss of a loved one as best we can?"

Another feature will be 'Look Back' videos for the deceased.

Released to celebrate Facebook's 10th birthday, these are individualised videos showing the highlights of a person's profile over the years.

When they were introduced however, some users questioned why they could not view the videos of deceased loved ones such as the high profile case of John Berlin who wanted to see that of his dead son, Jesse.

Facebook said: "Changes like this are part of a larger, ongoing effort to help people when they face difficult challenges like bereavement on Facebook.

"We will have more to share in the coming months as we continue to think through how best to help people." decide how they want to be remembered and what they want to leave behind for loved ones.

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