Facebook keeps profiles of the dead

NEW YORK: Death doesn't erase the online footprints that people leave in life and Facebook won't either, though it will make some changes.

The five-year-old social network will ``memorialize'' profiles of the dead if their friends or family request it.

Such accounts aren't new, but Facebook reminded visitors of their availability in a blog post this week.

Memorialized accounts are different from regular Facebook profiles.

For example, the site removes any contact information and bars people from logging in. The person's profile also won't appear in the ``suggestions'' section of Facebook, in which the site suggests friends to add. And only the deceased person's confirmed friends can find them in a search.