Digital After Death

Our lives are increasingly digital—but most of us have never been shown how to plan for what happens to our online accounts, files, and devices after we’re gone. This webinar will help you take control of your digital legacy before others are left to navigate it alone.

You’ll learn what digital assets, connected devices, and digital legacy really mean, and how legal frameworks shape access to them. Using real-world examples, the session will explore what can happen without planning: social media platforms that continue to post birthday reminders for someone who has died, or file-sharing accounts where others can still add, remove, or redistribute content. In a world of AI and constant content reuse, unplanned digital legacies can easily be altered or misunderstood.

Participants will receive guided worksheets and step-by-step support to begin documenting decisions, reviewing account settings, and preparing a practical plan for their digital assets—bringing clarity, care, and control to an often overlooked part of life planning.

Led by Kari Smith, a digital archivist and consultant specializing in digital object lifecycles and information management for cultural and archival materials. With over 20 years’ experience, Kari has worked extensively with electronic records, digital archives, and digitized cultural heritage across universities and cultural organizations in the United States and beyond. Kari previously served as MIT’s inaugural Digital Archivist and later as Institute Archivist. Active in community-driven initiatives such as ArchivesSpace and the BitCurator Community, Kari regularly teaches, presents, and serves on professional program committees. Kari co-teaches and co-presents established digital preservation courses and seminars and coaches organizations developing digital archives and preservation workflows. In 2022, Kari founded Global Archivist LLC, providing consulting and coaching services while continuing community-based archival work.