The place where the dead may soon outnumber the living

New analysis predicts the dead may outnumber the living on Facebook within 50 years, a trend that will have grave implications for how we treat our digital heritage in the future.

The Oxford University analysis predicts that, based on 2018 user levels, at least 1.4 billion members will die before 2100. In this scenario, the dead could outnumber the living by 2070.

If the world's largest social network continues to expand at current rates, however, the number of deceased users could reach as high as 4.9 billion before the end of the century.

"These statistics give rise to new and difficult questions around who has the right to all this data, how should it be managed in the best interests of the families and friends of the deceased and its use by future historians to understand the past," said lead author Carl Öhman.

"On a societal level, we have just begun asking these questions and we have a long way to go. The management of our digital remains will eventually affect everyone who uses social media, since all of us will one day pass away and leave our data behind. But the totality of the deceased user profiles also amounts to something larger than the sum of its parts. It is, or will at least become, part of our global digital heritage."

Have you thought about what will happen to your social media accounts when you die?

6 comments

I am not on any social media.

PlanB- But you're on this one genius!

Yes but not on facebook or such --  people can infom the administrators here if I die

Plan B, should that read "when I die?" . It's inevitable we are all going to go one day! Good reply by Arvo as well!

Darn right Dobbo darn right

The short answer is WHO CARES.  My only though is in regard to digital rights for families and their future generations.

I have a couple of friends on facebook who have passed away. Their families choose to keep the page up as a sort of memorial and I am happy to accept that.  I have the option to 'unfriend' them, but I don't.

At first, it felt sad, and a little bit strange seeing them there, but now it's really nice when Facebook does its thing and some old memory pops up recalling happy times we might have shared in the past.

As Mick says "who cares".

But I guess when the zombie apocalypse hits those accounts will all be revived!

 

I wonder what these younger ones are missing always being eyes down in Facebook - when I was younger we had friends in real time not on a computer. Meet up for coffee and chat around the table local coffe shop - some arriving some leaving etc often with dogs or younger siblings cause Mum needed them out of under her feet etc. 

And we didnt get run over etc or walk ino lamp posts or worse have traffic accidents due to texting etc. 

Is life improved for this generation?

In some ways maybe but in general NO> 

For one thing they havent been taught history as it happened all too often. As we saw recently state schools and others for all I know kids on strike for something that has been happening since Earth cooled down and got an atmosphere which then led to having a climate. Name used for weather - hot cold dry wet etc. 

Climate which has changed for millons of years - ice age and warm ages. And of course seasons. Its not any different today than it was 50 - 100 years or so back - maybe if anything actually heading down the cooling cycle as each winter lately we have seen both here and the Northern hemosphere colder and colder winters. 

Of course those who still intend to vote Labor will soon see how cold it can get she said tounge in cheek. My mind is made up - Labor has been stolen away from under their own noses by Greens who being on the nose, see Labor as next best opportunity to put into practice their insane ideas.

No matter to the Greens if it bankrupts nations. They hate democracies. Or if it kills people. People are expendable and certainly those over 65 who just use up facilities and breath air when their assets can be seized for use by the government for young people. 

Because if Labor do actually do as they say and go for 48% of no change to world emmissions as we only add 1.03% and even if we turned off all energy - nothing would help the rest. Meanwhile China, America etc dont bother to try to reduce their high emmissions. 

Actually it getting colder now earlier this winter to come maybe even colder than last which was colder then previous or so those who got the real figures say.

I noticed it in our energy bills - gas mainly for heating as well as cooking and hot water. Using more bottles each winter not a lot - 1 extra for last 3 or so years. But it all costs. As for electricity - say no more.

Even if AGW was real and not a scam dreamed up by Left Wing UN to re-distribute the so called wealth of the western nations to those of the poor third world nations - as we saw from those emails sent in East Anglia and then big cover up job ignored by Policiticians all scared stupid of the name calling and demonization that follows if they dare to even mention its not happening.

Political correctness is a curse on society. Thank you Greens!

We shall see who will fall for their stealing of Labor because they know wont be voted in themselves. 

As Richo said on Wednesday last on Sky News which incidently the Greens - via Acedeme  seems one professor has set up Sleeping Giants just to write or email any company one advertising on Sky to get them to take off ads so stn goes broke.  He has a lot of time well paid for seems to me - wastrel. 

Some companies have actually done this. Colgate Palmolive and Pizza Hut. 

Richo was congratulating himself for seeing a shoe in for Shorten and didnt mention much at all of the consequences of his climate change policies and lies of billions for this or that when we dont have billions lying around unspent - only just getting to the point that if Libs get back will be paying of last during next year but Labor will have to go borrowing once again as always end up doing last few times Keating left 96 billions of debt. Rudd 340 billions and and unfunded NDIS.

 

Thats the reality.

Insane to vote Labor knowing that we will all be so much worse off particularly our generation. Bu he is handing out billions which will need to be borrowed running up debt once again when last lot almost paid off.

I mean $500 a year for 2 years so $1000 to get teeth fixed is the sop to us all when most got theirs done under Howard - dentures etc I did for one. And we get free dentist treatments anyway or did not checked lately. Free blood tests too as well free cancer treatments - and a lower waiting time for hip replacements and knees too. 

So health is not that bad. What is bad is cost of living and energy. And it will rocket up under Labor with that stupid upping the so called climate change under Paris Agreement MT left winger and spiteful with it - signed us up to and we never got asked if we wanted to participate did we?

Anyway whatever happens I am sick already of the election. Worse one ever and they are not popular as they spend our money on ads which we loath. 

Pensioners havent had a real rise lately at all and the last cut to pensions was under Labor in 2009 Google and check. 

Yet pamphlets in mail and on TV Labor says Liberals cut age pension.Why Lie?

When was pension cut after the married rate lowered in 2009 by Labor.

Sneaky too never told anyone and never in the papers etc. Used the fact that the singles are forever going on about the marrieds ability to pay for one roof out of their bit higher couples pension. 

What did I miss?

Its no longer the 'young ones' on Facebook Irish Lassie. They have moved on because their parents and Grandparents have all got accounts now. That's probably the reason why there will be more dead than aliove account holders in the near future!

Spot on KSS!

America has reduced its emissions, largely due to fracking and other exploitation of gas reserves.

Irish Lassie you missed the bit where Abbott took some of our pension as soon as he got in which he   promised would not be done -- he took some of the CPI off and it has NOT been put back on.

Well,irish lassie, what the dickens are you blabberring about? Your random ravings don't seem to have any relevance to the topic.

It would appear any topic will do for a political rant.  Must be an election in the wind.  LOL

Never mind Irish Lassie, you know what they say, sticks and stones etc

Here have a bit of our left over easter treat, 

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