Weaving Social Memory: Posthumous Rights in Social Networks

Abstract

Social media emerged as a means to connect people from various parts of the world. It has also become a digital memory tool, increasingly present in the lives of millions of people. However, when someone passes away, their social media profile remains, raising questions about the fate of this digital legacy. Given its importance to society, this article discusses the social memory of individuals in the context of social media and explores the question of the possibility of completely erasing the information shared on social media platforms, as well as who would hold that power. This article explores the possibility of digital inheritance being properly transmitted through legitimate succession or testamentary provisions, identifying who would be the beneficiary of this legacy. To do so, it examines posthumous rights in the internet age, exploring ethical and legal issues related to the preservation of digital memory and matters concerning succession.