- None of these three platforms offers a tool to plan ahead, as far as we could find.
- X can deactivate a dead person’s account if an estate representative or verified immediate family member sends ID and a death certificate. It never gives access.
- LinkedIn has an official route to memorialise or close a deceased member’s account.
- TikTok has no published process for deceased users that we could find at the time of writing.
These three platforms are less central than email or photos, but an active profile after a death can be painful to see and can be misused. None of them appears to let you choose a contact in advance, so the planning is up to you and the clean-up falls to your family.
Set it up now
Because there’s no built-in tool, write your wishes down. For each account, record:
- the platform and the username or profile link
- whether you want it closed, memorialised (where offered) or left alone
- anything you want saved first, such as posts or videos
Put this in your digital asset inventory and say who should deal with it in your letter of instruction. If there are videos or posts you want kept, download copies yourself now. Don’t count on anyone being given access to the account after your death to do it for you.
If someone has died
X (formerly Twitter)
X’s official page is called “Contact X about a deceased family member’s account”. It says X can deactivate the account. It doesn’t mention memorialisation.
Who can ask: a person authorised to act on behalf of the estate, or a verified immediate family member.
How it works:
- Fill in X’s request form.
- X emails you instructions.
- Send information about the person who died, a copy of your own ID and a copy of the death certificate.
X says these documents stay confidential and are deleted after review. It gives no timescale. X is clear that it is “unable to provide account access to anyone regardless of their relationship to the deceased”.
If the account holder is alive but incapacitated, X also asks for a copy of their ID and a power of attorney.
LinkedIn has an official help article titled “Memorialize or close the account of a deceased member”. The title confirms that LinkedIn can memorialise or close a deceased member’s account. The article itself couldn’t be read for this guide, so the exact details LinkedIn asks for, and who it accepts requests from, aren’t covered here. Start from LinkedIn’s help article and follow its current instructions.
TikTok
We found no published TikTok process for deceased users at the time of writing. TikTok’s help centre showed no article on deceased or memorialised accounts in the sections checked. Reports elsewhere disagree with each other, including on whether TikTok has a memorialisation feature at all, so they aren’t repeated here.
If you need to deal with a TikTok account, contact TikTok through “Report a problem” or its privacy support and explain the situation. Keep a copy of the death certificate to hand in case TikTok asks for proof.
If you know the password, don’t use it. Logging in as someone who has died can breach the platform’s terms, and in the UK unauthorised access can raise issues under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The official request route is slower but safe.
Quick comparison
| Platform | Planning tool | After a death | Access given |
|---|---|---|---|
| X | None found | Deactivation by request with ID and death certificate | Never |
| None found | Memorialise or close (official help article) | Not confirmed | |
| TikTok | None found | No published process found | Not stated |
Watch for impersonation
Trading Standards has warned about fraudsters impersonating family members on social media after a death, and about fake donation pages. If you see an account using the person’s name or photos to ask for money, report it to the platform. Our page on scams that target bereaved families covers what to look out for, and closing accounts in order shows where social media fits in.
Policies change, so check each platform’s official page before you apply.