Most of us have spent years building a digital life — accounts, emails, passwords, photos, files, subscriptions, bank apps, social media profiles, crypto wallets, cloud storage, and messages that hold a lifetime of memories.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: when we die, our online lives don’t just disappear. They linger. They sit in inboxes, auto-renewing subscriptions, abandoned chats, locked drives, and photo folders that may never be seen again. Some stay dormant for years. Some get hacked. Some become digital ghosts — searchable, traceable, but ownerless. And the scary part? Most people don’t prepare for this at all.
Why It Matters More Than You Think
We prepare for so many things in life: weddings, birthdays, childbirth, even retirement. But digital death? It’s a blind spot. Think about it:
- Your family may not know how to access your email or cloud accounts.
- You may have unfinished payments or funds in a wallet no one can access.
- Important work documents, personal notes, or creative projects could get lost forever.
- Your social media profiles may stay online, unmanaged, and open to impersonation or misuse.
And for many in Nigeria (and across Africa), where a lot of communication and business happens informally on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram — losing access to someone’s phone or accounts can mean losing access to income, deals, or entire client histories.
What Actually Happens When You Die?
Let’s break it down by platform and type of account:
- Email (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook):
Gmail allows you to set up an “Inactive Account Manager” — you can pre-select trusted contacts who’ll get access if your account goes inactive for a set time. Without this, it’s nearly impossible to access without a court order. - Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X):
Facebook lets you set a “legacy contact” to manage your account after death or request a memorialisation. Instagram can also memorialise accounts. Twitter/X has no official legacy system — accounts go silent or get deleted after long inactivity. - Mobile Money, Bank Apps & Fintech:
Nigerian banks typically require death certificates and next-of-kin processing to access funds. But if your digital wallet (like OPay, Palmpay, or crypto apps) is password-protected with no shared recovery plan, that money may never be claimed. - Cloud Drives (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox):
Without login details or pre-set legacy access, your stored files and photos are locked away. iCloud, especially, is strict — even family members can’t legally retrieve data without prior access granted. - Phones and Passwords:
Most smartphones today are heavily encrypted. Without a passcode or fingerprint, even family can’t unlock them. And if your passwords live inside a password manager like LastPass or Bitwarden — that becomes another locked vault.
How to Prepare While You’re Alive
Now that we’ve acknowledged the problem, let’s talk solutions — practical ones:
1. Create a Digital Will
Write a basic document that outlines the following. It doesn’t have to be a legal document initially — just clear instructions, stored securely.
- All your major accounts and where they live
- What should happen to each (delete, transfer, memorialise)
- Who gets access to what
2. Choose a Trusted Digital Guardian
Pick 1–2 people you trust to handle your digital life after you’re gone. Let them know ahead of time. They don’t need passwords immediately — just the awareness that they’ve been chosen.
3. Use Inactive Account Settings
Platforms like Google and Facebook offer this. Set it up in minutes. It lets you decide what happens to your data if you go inactive for X months.
4. Back Up & Store Passwords Securely
Use a password manager that allows emergency access (some do!). Or, if you’re not comfortable with apps, store passwords in a sealed envelope, kept in a safe place — or with a lawyer or trusted family member.
5. Talk About It
This is the hardest but most important step. Death is a sensitive topic, but having one conversation with your family, spouse, or close friend can save them months of confusion and emotional stress later.
Final Thoughts: Digital Death Is Real — But So Is Digital Preparedness
You don’t have to have it all figured out today. But doing something is better than doing nothing. Because your digital life holds value — financially, emotionally, professionally. And when you’re gone, someone will have to deal with it.
Don’t let your digital legacy become a burden. Make it a gift. A well-planned handover. A final show of care. Prepare now. You’re not too young. You’re not too early.
