Digital afterlife – how to deal with social media accounts when someone dies

Untangling digital interactions after someone dies is becoming increasingly complicated. Illustration: Victoria Hart/Guardian Design

Gavin Blomeley was lucky his mother was incredibly organised before she died. She left a note that included the passcode to her phone and access to all her online passwords.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult this could have gotten not having these passwords or knowing this note with all of her passwords existed,” Blomeley says.