What Happens to Your Account After You Die? Meta Has an Idea

Meta has been granted a patent describing artificial intelligence technology capable of simulating a user’s social media presence — including responding to comments, liking posts and replying to direct messages — even if the user is deceased.

The patent outlines how a large language model could be trained on an individual’s historical platform activity, such as past posts, comments and interactions, to create a digital replica of their online behavior.

According to the filing, the system could operate when a user takes an extended break from social media or, more permanently, if the user dies. The concept is part of a broader category often referred to as “grief tech,” where digital tools are designed to memorialize or simulate deceased individuals.

Meta spokespersons have said the company has no plans to move forward with this specific example and emphasized that receiving a patent does not necessarily mean the technology will be developed or deployed.

Still, the patent has sparked debate among legal scholars and ethicists. Experts raise concerns about privacy, digital rights and the psychological effects such tools could have on how people process grief.

Critics argue that simulating the presence of the deceased may blur emotional boundaries, while others suggest it reflects a broader shift in how technology intersects with memory and loss.