Imagine getting a Facebook friend request from the deceased. This happened to me not once, but twice. The account belonged to a distant relative named Carolyn who passed away in 2020 at the age of 96 due to COVID-19-related complications.
Carolyn’s daughter-in-law, Janet, says, “Even into her 90s, Carolyn was somewhat active on Facebook. [Afterwards, it] was a useful tool to share information about her passing and gave the family a place to peruse old photos, either for memories or to use in her obituary.”
In the digital afterlife, Carolyn had become what experts call a “digital zombie.” Her account had been reactivated after her death, and not by accident.
The Impact of Digital Grave Robbers
Carolyn’s story is common. Many social media users interact with these so-called digital zombies daily without even realizing it. Of course, deceased Facebook friend requests do not come to life on their own.
