refer to memorialization are characterized by the same insistence that
users have been given ample tools to solve these problems and that the
responsibility lies with users to mitigate their own distress. Describing
an important limitation of its face-recognition software, which assists
users in tagging friends in pictures, the help page announces regret-
fully: “Unfortunately, we do not have the technical ability to determine
whether the person shown in the photo is deceased,” adding as a correc-
tive, “As always, you have the option to delete any photo that you have
uploaded to Facebook.”
The language of Facebook’s current help page reveals its frustration
that the problems continue even after years of messaging about memo-
rialization. And the frustration is understandable. Why do so many
profiles still go unmemorialized, like every one of my own late friends?
Two explanations are available. Either Facebook’s efforts to publicize its
policy haven’t worked, or else the public is resisting. Probably it’s a lot of
both. That is, most users haven’t considered the problem, and those who
have don’t like their choices.
Craig Alberghine, whose son Vincent died in a canoe accident in
December 2011, has given a voice to those who find the policy excessively forceful and/or lacking. When Vincent’s profile was memorialized
in 2012 without his prompting or his permission, Alberghine created
a petition against Facebook’s memorialization process. The petition
argues that Facebook’s universal policy is too blunt and fails to consider that individuals might have different preferences regarding the
preservation or disposal of their digital remains. Alberghine and his
family were troubled that the outpouring of condolences and tributes
on Vincent’s memorialized page could only be viewed by his Facebook
friends. Therefore, even close members of Vincent’s family who had
created Facebook profiles after Vincent’s death were barred from participating in his online memorial. Photo albums containing pictures of
Vincent were also out of some family members’ reach. And they couldn’t
write posts or even read the eulogies that others posted to his wall.
Mr. Alberghine’s petition has garnered support around the globe. One
signee from California expresses a sentiment shared by many: “I want
to memorialize a friend on FB but not shut out friends/family not on
her friends list. FB’s current policy needs to be changed!” Other signees
express that Facebook’s policy is too limited in other ways. Many would
like their own profiles to be viewable by the public after their deaths,
but this isn’t an option. Facebook will process “certain” special requests,
