If you think it is necessary to disable Twitter for someone who has died, the social network has prepared a form to make a request.
Not every social network proposes to delete the content of an account after a period of inactivity – Twitter does some regular cleaning, but does not set a deadline. In some cases, someone’s old posts can continue to bring pain to families; in others, the profile continues to be disrespected by other users … For these or other examples, learn how to disable the Twitter account of someone who has died.
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Delete Twitter (Image: Lucas Lima / Tecnoblog)
Who can disable the account of someone who has passed away?
There are two scenarios for requesting a Twitter account deactivation: people who have died or who are demonstrably unable to continue managing the profile. Who can request account deactivation varies in the following cases:
- People who died: a direct family member or someone authorized to act on behalf of the State;
- Disabled users: someone authorized to act on behalf of that person.
In both cases, proof of the link with the user is made based on documents required by Twitter.
- For people who died: you need a copy of the identity of the person who made the request, in addition to a copy of the person’s death certificate;
- Disabled persons: requires copies of the identities (of the person who made the request and of the account holder) and the power of attorney that authorizes the person who requested the deactivation to act on behalf of the account holder.
Twitter says these documents are treated confidentially and will be deleted after the review.
How to ask Twitter to deactivate a deceased account
- Visit help.twitter.com/pt/forms/privacy ;
- In the first field, check “I am requesting information about a Twitter account”;
- In the second field, select “Someone I am authorized to represent”;
- In the “Enter the specific information you are requesting” field, write that you want to disable the profile and explain the reason;
- Fill in the remaining fields with the indicated information and send the request. Then wait for Twitter contact via email.
Even if Twitter fulfills the request, deactivating the account, the social network says it will not provide anyone with access credentials to the account, regardless of the degree of relationship with the deceased.
What happens after the account is deactivated?
When an account is deactivated, the user name, display name and public profile can no longer be seen on Twitter.
For 30 days it is still possible to reactivate the account, if the person has access to it. After that period, the profile is permanently disabled and all information is removed from Twitter’s production tools.
After 30 days, the user’s @ (at sign) will be free for other people.
