Who will update your Twitter if you suddenly die?
About a year ago we were going through the process of migrating to Australia. In the process, to prove we are a genuine married couple, we wrote the last will in which we left everything to the other in case of death. However, while writing my will, I noticed a lot of quite unusual things that needed to be wrapped up in the case of my death. Like who is going to notify my online friends that I’m dead. At this point of one’s life it is pretty theoretical anyway, so it’s a safe distance from the actual event.
So I started writing down my passwords and user names for different websites I administrate and online profiles that I have, giving instructions to people in the case of my death. I wanted to make sure that my online friends and followers would not have to wonder what happened to me, but someone would be updating my profiles with a link back to my blog explaining what happened. The real life friends will be told naturally, but who’s going to tell the hundreds of people online that are waiting for you to get on Twitter finally!
So I made the Internet Instructions an appendix to the will, only stating in the will who is responsible for the updates, and that only they should be given the sealed envelope. But isn’t it quite amazing to think that these days, pretty much all of us need a press release to the world notifying what happened? After all, were still a bunch of nobodies. 
One of the things I put in mine, was that you have to submit my MySpace profile to MyDeathSpace.com. As chorny and hmm.. tastless as it may be, I want my update.
So who’s going to update your Twitter with the words: “If you are reading this, it means I’m dead… http://tinyurl…”
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You know, this is something I’ve contemplated in the past. I need to get off my duff and put together the list of sites and instructions for some final words.
I think it would be important for the readers. Imagine if all of a sudden, a site you enjoyed just stopped posting, or otherwise went away. You would wonder what happened, wouldn’t you?
Thanks for the reminder to do this!
George
Tumblemooses last blog post..Tumblemoose Times – A writer’s newsletter
Yeah, it would not be fun if someone disappears and you’ll never hear from them again. Not only you wonder where they went, but possibly what kind of a blocking system they are using to block you from seeing them, and what did you say to deserve that.
Anyway… The famous last words should be written.
After reading this post I’m left thinking. I do not anyone on a personal enough note on the internet to care if they I was dead or not. My family and friends would be notified, for some reason that satisfies my soul. People come and go on the internet every day, some move, some get new jobs or hobbies, and yes, some die. Do I feel left out that I don’t know which has happened, not really.
You do bring up alot of valid points tho, the best one would be who will notify all the people that you know that no-one else knows you know. Might be in the best interest of everyone to just write their own obituary with a foot note at the bottom that reads something like this, “I may not be dead yet, check my blog. If there are no new entries in, say, two weeks, best bet I’m dead. Thanks for visiting, see you on the flip side.”
I know, sarcasim is a sign of denial. I enjoyed your post.
Thank you for dropping by and commenting!
I think it depends a lot on the amount of time and effort invested in the online world whether or not it is important to let everyone know where you went. I have enough close internet relationships for it to matter, and I think a lot of people do these days. In addition I am the sole owner/administrator of a few online communities, which would probably die out if I would drop dead without any word. They would think they’ve been abandoned and would probably feel quite upset about it. They would need some instructions on how to handle things from there on.
I’m not sure who would want to continue what I’ve started on the net after I’m gone. As a kidney failure and dialysis patient, death is not news to me and is always hovering over the horizon. Though what you’ve written made me think of it even further.
Maybe somebody could pick up what I’ve started, probably nobody. So for now I’m just making the most out of everything while I’m still here…
…not unless there’s an internet in heaven. Now wouldn’t that be nice?
Juliuss last blog post..Current Health Concerns
Thank you Julius for stopping by and commenting! I wouldn’t expect anyone to continue this blog for example, it’s just for my personal ramblings, and all I expect is to someone post the last post explaining what happened (because I’m not expecting to die anytime soon so it would be a surprise to everyone)…
But it would be fantastic if heaven had internet.
Could at least send people email from beyond. 
I don’t know why, but I think I’d prefer to just disappear into that mysterious electronic aether that fills the internet. Perhaps my name would pass into legend then and I’d develop the fame and following in death that I never had in life.
Yeah right. :p
Tony Singles last blog post..An Affair to Forget
Hahah, crazier things have happened. :p