In today’s digital age, many people accumulate an extensive digital footprint consisting of various online accounts, social media profiles, and other digital assets. While people readily make use of such platforms to communicate and share information, they often fail to consider how their digital footprints will be managed after they’re gone. This has led to the development of the concept of digital estate planning, which refers to the processes and strategies that people can use to manage their digital legacy.
Digital estate planning involves categorizing and organizing digital assets, identifying a trustworthy individual to take control of the assets after death, and leaving specific instructions on how they should be dealt with. Overall, digital estate planning is essentially the same as traditional estate planning, only that the focus is on managing digital assets.
Digital assets include social media profiles, email accounts, photos, videos, music, blogs, gaming accounts, and any other digital property that you own. Managing these assets can be challenging, primarily if you have many of them. However, the following tips can help you start the process:
Inventory and categorize your digital assets
The first step in digital estate planning is to make an inventory of all your digital assets. You should categorize these assets by type, account information, and provide instructions on how to gain access to them.
Specify your wishes for each asset
After you’ve classified your digital assets, you should specify your wishes for each of them. Consider who you would like to inherit your online accounts and who should take control of them. Provide clear instructions on how to distribute or manage each asset so that your wishes are met.
Choose a digital executor
Just like a traditional will, you need to appoint an executor to manage your digital assets. This person should be someone you trust who will carry out your wishes. Additionally, provide clear instructions on what they should do with each asset.
Store your digital inventory and instructions
When creating your digital estate plan, ensure that you store it in a secure location. Importantly, note that digital information tends to shift and become outdated over time. Therefore, it would help if you make periodic updates to your plan to ensure it stays current.
In conclusion, as technology keeps advancing, the concept of digital estate planning is becoming more crucial by the day. Proper digital estate planning will ensure that your online assets go to the people you want and that your online legacy remains intact after you’re gone. By using the tips above, you can make sure your digital assets are managed according to your wishes.
