Memorialization

Policy Details
User Experiences

Policy details

CHANGE LOG
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, friends and family can request that we memorialize their accounts. Once memorialized, the word "Remembering" appears above the name on the person's profile so that the account is now a memorial site. Memorializing accounts helps create a space for remembering loved ones and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. To respect the choices someone made while alive, we aim to preserve their account without changes after they pass away.
On Facebook, we have made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away. To support the bereaved, in some instances, we may remove or change certain content when the legacy contact or family members request it.
Requests to memorialize Facebook or Instagram accounts that belong to deceased users can be made with the requisite information by:
  • Facebook friends
  • Instagram followers
  • Family members with the correct documentation
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content on Facebook and Instagram if it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a family member of the deceased. We may also remove this content on Facebook when requested by the Facebook legacy contact:
  • Content related to the deceased's death
  • Praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death.
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased.
  • Relationship status or friend status of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased
For the following Community Standards, we require additional information and/or context to make the following changes when requested by an authorized representative of the deceased and on Facebook-only, by the legacy contact:
  • Remove violating comments on a memorialized profile, which would typically require the individual to self report so that we know that they are unwanted.
  • Change the deceased's individual's privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile
  • Change the name on the profile if it violates our Community Standards, in accordance with our Authentic Name policy
  • Add friends or followers to the profile if they were removed following the deceased’s passing
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, Facebook friends and family can request that we memorializethe Facebook accountfriends and family can request that we memorialize their accounts . Once memorialized, the word "Remembering" appears above the name on the person's profile so that the account is now a memorial site. Memorializing accounts helps create a space for remembering loved ones and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. To respect the choices someone made while alive, we aim to preserve their account without changes after they pass away.
On Facebook, we have made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away.We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their Facebook account after they pass away. To support the bereaved, in some instances, we may remove or change certain content when the legacy contact or family members request it.
Requests to memorialize Facebook or Instagram accounts that belong to deceased users can be made with the requisite information by:
  • Facebook friends
  • Instagram followers
  • Family members with the correct documentation
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content on Facebook and Instagram if it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a legacy contact or family member of the deceased.We may also remove this content on Facebook when requested by the Facebook legacy contact:
  • Content related to the deceased's death
  • Praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death.
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased.
  • Relationship status or friend status of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased
For the following Community Standards, we require additional information and/or context to make the following changes when requested by the legacy contact or an authorized representative of the deceased:when requested by an authorized representative of the deceased and on Facebook-only, by the legacy contact:
  • Remove violating comments on a memorialized profile, which would typically require the individual to self report so that we know that they are unwanted.
  • Change the deceased's individual's privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile
  • Change the name on the profile if it violates our Community Standards, in accordance with our Authentic Name policy
  • Add friends or followers to the profile if they were removed following the deceased’s passing
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, Facebook friends and family can request that we memorialize the Facebook account. Once memorialized, the word "Remembering" appears above the name on the person's profile so the account is now a memorial site. Memorializing accounts helps create a space for remembering loved ones and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. To respect the choices someone made while alive, we aim to preserve their account without changes after they pass away.
We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their Facebook account after they pass away. To support the bereaved, in some instances we may remove or change certain content when the legacy contact or family members request it.
Visit Hard Questions for more information about our memorialization policy and process. And see our Newsroom for the latest tools we are building to support people during these difficult times.
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content or activityif it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a legacy contact or an authorized representativefamily member of the deceased:
  • Content related to the deceased's death
  • Praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death.
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased.
  • Relationship status or friend status of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased
  • Content related to the deceased’s death.
For victims of murder, we will also remove the convicted or alleged murderer from the deceased’s profile if referenced in relationship status or among friends.
For the following Community Standards, we require additional information and/or context to make the following changes when requested by the legacy contact or an authorized representative of the deceased:enforce:
When brought to our attention by the legacy contact or a family member of the deceased, we will:
  • Remove violating comments on a memorialized profile, which would typically require the individual to self report so that we know that they are unwanted.
  • Remove praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased person on a memorialized profile.
  • Change the deceased individual’s privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile.
  • Change a violating account name on the profile of the deceased individual.the name on the profile if it violates our Community Standards, in accordance with our Authentic Name policy
  • Add friends or followers to the profile if they were removed following the deceased’s passing
When someone passes away,Facebookfriends and family can request that we memorialize the Facebook account. Once memorialized, the word "Remembering" appears above the name on the person's profile so the account is now a memorial site and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. To respect the choices someone made while alive, we aim to preserve their account after they pass away.
We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away. To support the bereaved, in some instances we may remove or change certain content when the legacy contact or family members request it.
Visit Hard Questions for more information about our memorialization policy and process. And see our Newsroom for the latest tools we are building to support people during these difficult times.
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content if it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a legacy contact or family member of the deceased:
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death.
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased.
  • Content related to the deceased’s death.
For victims of murder, we will also remove the convicted or alleged murderer from the deceased’s profile if referenced in relationship status or among friends.
For the following Community Standards, we require additional information and/or context to enforce:
When brought to our attention by the legacy contact or a family member of the deceased, we will:
  • Remove violating comments on a memorialized profile, which would typically require the individual to self report so that we know that they are unwanted.
  • Remove praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased person on a memorialized profile.
  • Change the deceased individual’s privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile.
  • Change a violating account name on the profile of the deceased individual.
The policy is being updated to clarify that only Facebook friends and family members can request that an account be memorialized.
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, friends and family can request that we memorialize their accounts. Once memorialized, the word "Remembering" appears above the name on the person's profile so that the account is now a memorial site. Memorializing accounts helps create a space for remembering loved ones and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. To respect the choices someone made while alive, we aim to preserve their account without changes after they pass away.
On Facebook, we have made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away. To support the bereaved, in some instances, we may remove or change certain content when the legacy contact or family members request it.
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content if it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a legacy contact or family member of the deceased:
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased
  • Content related to the deceased’s death
For victims of murder, we will also remove the convicted or alleged murderer from the deceased’s profile if referenced in relationship status or among friends.
When we have additional context provided by the legacy contact or a family member of the deceased, we may:
  • Remove bullying or harassment violations on a memorialized profile, which normally require the individual to self-report
  • Remove praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased person on a memorialized profile
  • Change the deceased’s individual’s privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile
  • Change a violating account name on the profile of the deceased individual
For the following Community Standards, we require additional information and/or context to enforce:
When brought to our attention by the legacy contact or a family member of the deceased, we will:
  • Remove violating comments on a memorialized profile, which would typically require the individual to self report so that we know that they are unwanted
  • Remove praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased person on a memorialized profile
  • Change the deceased’s individual’s privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile
  • Change a violating account name on the profile of the deceased individual
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, friends and family can request that we memorialize the Facebook account. Once memorialized, the word "Remembering"appears above the name on the person's profile to help make it This makes it clear that the account is now a memorial site and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. ToWe do not remove, update, or change anything about the profile or the account because we want to respect the choices someone made while alive, we aim to preserve their account after they pass away. We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away.To support the bereaved, in some instances we may remove or change certain content when the legacy contact or family members request it. People can let us know in advance if they want their account permanently deleted when they die. We may delete profiles when the next of kin tells us that the person who passed would have preferred that we delete the account rather than memorialize it.
Visit Hard Questions for more information about our memorialization policy and process. And see our Newsroom for the latest tools we're building to support people during these difficult times.
Once we become aware that a person has passed away:
  • Their account is secured and memorialized by adding “Remembering” above the name on the person's profile. The profile or account is not updated or otherwise changed in any way
  • Immediate family members can also request that we remove a loved one’s profile
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content if it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a legacy contact or family member of the deceased:
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased
  • Content related to the deceased’s death
For victims of murder, we will also remove the convicted or alleged murderer from the deceased’s profile if referenced in relationship status or among friends.
When we have additional context provided by the legacy contact or a family member of the deceased, we may:
  • Remove bullying or harassment violations on a memorialized profile, which normally require the individual to self-report
  • Remove praise or support for the death, disease, or harm of the deceased person on a memorialized profile
  • Change the deceased’s individual’s privacy settings from public to friends-only when there is harmful content on the profile
  • Change a violating account name on the profile of the deceased individual
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, friends and family can request that we memorialize the account by adding "Remembering" above the name on the person's profile. This makes it clear that the account is now a memorial site and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. We do not remove, update, or change anything about the profile or the account because we want to respect the choices someone made while alive. We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away. People can let us know in advance if they want their account permanently deleted when they die. We may delete profiles when the next of kin tells us that the person who passed would have preferred that we delete the account rather than memorialize it.
Visit Hard Questions for more information about our memorialization policy and process. And see our Newsroom for the latest tools we're building to support people during these difficult times.
For victims of murder and suicide we will remove the following content if it appears on the deceased’s profile photo, cover photo, or among recent timeline posts when requested by a legacy contact or family member of the deceased:
  • Visual depiction of the object used in the deceased’s death
  • Imagery of the convicted or alleged murderer of the deceased
  • Content related to the deceased’s death
For victims of murder, we will also remove the convicted or alleged murderer from the deceased’s profile if referenced in relationship status or among friends .
Policy Rationale
When someone passes away, friends and family can request that we memorialize the account by adding "Remembering" above the name on the person's profile. This makes it clear that the account is now a memorial site and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. We do not remove, update, or change anything about the profile or the account because we want to respect the choices someone made while alive. We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away. People can let us know in advance if they want their account permanently deleted when they die. We may delete profiles when the next of kin tells us that the person who passed would have preferred that we delete the account rather than memorialize it.
Visit Hard Questions for more information about our memorialization policy and process. And see our Newsroom for the latest tools we're building to support people during these difficult times.
Policy Rationale
When we learn that someone has passed away,When someone passes away, friends and family can request that we memorialize the account by adding "Remembering" above the name on the person's profile. This makes it clear that the account is now a memorial site and protects against attempted logins and fraudulent activity. We do not remove, update, or change anything about the profile or the account because we want to respect the choices someone made while still alive. We have also made it possible for people to identify a legacy contact to look after their account after they pass away. People can let us know in advance if they want their account permanently deleted when they die. We may delete profiles when the next of kin tells us that the person who passed would have preferred that we delete the account rather than memorialize it. Visit Hard Questions for more information about our memorialization policy and process.
User experiences
See some examples of what enforcement looks like for people on Facebook, such as: what it looks like to report something you don’t think should be on Facebook, to be told you’ve violated our Community Standards and to see a warning screen over certain content.
Note: We’re always improving, so what you see here may be slightly outdated compared to what we currently use.
USER EXPERIENCE
Reporting
USER EXPERIENCE
Post-report communication
USER EXPERIENCE
Takedown experience
USER EXPERIENCE
Warning screens
Enforcement
We have the same policies around the world, for everyone on Facebook.
Review teams
Our global team of over 15,000 reviewers work every day to keep people on Facebook safe.
Stakeholder engagement
Outside experts, academics, NGOs and policymakers help inform the Facebook Community Standards.
Get help with memorialization
Learn what you can do if you see something on Facebook that goes against our Community Standards.
Visit our Help Center