What should be done to a user’s online profile/website when they pass to the next layer of life as we know it? What becomes all of their virtual ‘belongings’? Should their online presence exit stage left, or be left in memoriam?

These are hard questions to answer, with possible differing of opinions, or even no opinion.

One could argue that taking down all of them on the virtual level is the proper thing to do, the respectful thing to do; however, conversely simply leaving it up, or perhaps leaving it be, or building it up can result in an even greater therapy: notifying for years to come of the occurrence, providing a corner of the somewhat-indestructible virtual-world a place of refuge for this person– their pictures, quotes, moments in time. Is it best to not deal with these feelings in the beginning, to rid oneself of these reminders…or is it best to deal, remind? As for my father’s death, it becomes profound to not leave an online presence, his virtual residence as you will. This is a man who amassed many domains, websites, connected with hundreds of individuals over the years, traveled the world, and for him not to be on the internet almost seems wrong. Like the vikings, I am prone to believe an afterlife partially starts with the life you leave on earth. Being left with gorgeous riches and a dog is not my bag; alas, leaving a memory, an imprint of some sort is important; if not for those to remember you by.

Not everyone is ready to reveal their emotions, memories, stories with those who have passed; but with an online profile of sorts, this too can be made possible later on in life– when you are ready, ready to say your peace, or add that picture of you two in one hell of a location together. I mean what really should be done to an online profile of  a dead person? Should this be taken down in respect of the deceased, moved to an obituary– perhaps a middle ground of an obituary online profile? Or maybe it should be left up, in remembrance of this person’s footprint on life. Added to over the years, to keep in inclusion to your lives.

After all, you may want to click through and see them again, the way they left things.

So I ask you: What would you leave?