Instagram will be adding a new memorial feature for deceased users in a future update. This will add a ‘Remembering’ tag in the user’s profile page to inform visitors of their passing.
The new feature was discovered by Jane Manchun Wong, a researcher who conducts tests on unreleased features in various applications. Aside from the aforementioned tag on the profile page, she adds that the platform will also provide a link to their Help Center Page as well.
“We’ve been working on these updates for some time,” said Instagram spokesperson Liza Crenshaw when approached by BuzzFeed. “Through this one – among others – that we’ve accelerated in light of COVID-19 to help support our community during a difficult time.”
Instagram is working on account memorialization
disclaimer: I’m not actually dead, only in the inside pic.twitter.com/DVIDLLwTAk
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) April 20, 2020
Previously, the platform will preserve accounts of deceased users upon request by family members. This would prevent the account from getting deleted or altered, and at the same time disallowing anyone from accessing it, even if they have the deceased’s password in their possession. Additionally, the memorialised account will not show up on the platform’s Explore page.
Instagram has not revealed when the new memorial feature will be rolled out at this time.
(Source: Jane Manchun Wong [Twitter] via BuzzFeed News / Instagram)
