Vishal Batish

It sounds tragic but by the year 2110, it is likely that facebook will have 400 million profiles of dead people. With current number of profiles crossing above 400 million and with an assumption of human age to be below 100 years, it is very much possible to have 400 million profiles of people who have died by then. The same figure will keep on increasing as the time will pass and it could be possible that by year 2210, the number of profiles of dead people will be far more than people who will be alive and using facebook.

It becomes a social responsibility of social networking sites like Facebook to come up with a solution to deal with such scenario. Sooner or later Facebook and other networking sites will have to find a appropriate solution for the same. Currently facebook gives an option of “Memorized Account” for profiles of departed friends. A user (alive) can mark another friends (deceased) profile as “Memorized” after providing certain information to establish true identity between them. Certain evidence like obituary news etc can also be asked for to prove the death of profile member.  The profiles that are marked “Memorized” will only be viewed by members who are listed in current friend’s list and they will be able to leave comments on the wall. No doubt this is a well thought of and a good way to pay respect to the departed soul.

The irony is that by 2110 all the friends of the departed profile member will also be not alive and any access to such profiles will be completely gone. Won’t it be good if such “Memorized” profiles are available only for viewing purpose for everyone? I am sure if I was born in 2210, I would have liked to see the “Original” profile of Micheal Jackson, how his life was shaped up and who were his friends etc etc. Of course a separate option to search will have to be given to include “Memorized” profiles in search results.

Maybe with passage of time social networking sites will come up with even more thoughtful solution to deal with the issue.

I know the topic is bit awkward. Do feel free to let me know what your thoughts on the same.