Facebook adds new tributes section to app
CAPE TOWN – Facebook on Tuesday announced that it will be adding a new tributes feature to the app with the aim of making the social platform a place where people can support each other while honouring the memory of their loved ones.
This new section will allow friends and family members to be able to continue to post memories of loved ones that have passed away on their pages.
Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer said in a statement: "Today we’re sharing updates to make this experience even more supportive for our community: a new tributes section for memorialized accounts; additional controls for people who manage memorialized accounts; and improved AI to keep the profile of a deceased loved one from appearing in painful ways."
"These changes are the result of feedback we heard from people of different religions and cultural backgrounds as well as experts and academics. We’re grateful to them for helping us understand how we can build more tools to help people find comfort in times of grief," said Sandberg.
Additionally, Facebook is adding new options for legacy contacts to better manage a user's page after death.
What is a legacy contact?
It is either a friend or family member that is granted the power to convert an account into a memorialized account after the user’s death
Legacy contacts will be able to moderate the new tribute section, limiting who can post or see posts on that page.
Parents are now also able to request to be made a legacy contact for children under 18 who have died.
Facebook also stated that it has improved its AI algorithms to prevent memorialized accounts from appearing in inappropriate places such as recommendations for event invitations or on birthday reminders.
"We’ll continue to build on these changes as we hear more feedback. We hope Facebook remains a place where the memory and spirit of our loved ones can be celebrated and live on," said Sandberg.
WATCH:
Written by: Gabriella Steyn.
Guzzle Media.
