Meta has secured a patent describing an AI system that could continue the social media presence of deceased or long-term inactive users. Let’s just say the reaction online has been swift.
Originally filed in 2023 and granted in late 2025, the patent outlines a system that would use a large language model to analyse a person’s past posts, messages, comments and interactions. From there, it could replicate their tone, writing style and communication patterns. Consequently, this would allow the account to continue posting and responding in a way designed to feel authentic.
The proposal doesn’t stop at text. According to the filing, the system could also simulate voice, video and even phone calls. Thus, it would effectively create a digital avatar capable of interacting independently.
While the patent covers scenarios involving extended inactivity — such as influencers taking a break but wanting to maintain audience engagement — much of the backlash has centred on its potential use after death.
Meta says it has no current plans to implement the system. As with many patents, the filing appears to be about protecting future possibilities rather than signalling an imminent product launch. Still, the idea has reignited concerns around digital identity and consent.
Key questions remain unresolved. Who would control AI-generated posts after someone’s death? How would personality rights be protected? And what are the psychological implications of interacting with a digital version of someone who has passed away?
On Reddit, users were quick to criticise the concept, describing it as “dystopian” and “immoral,” with several drawing comparisons to the Black Mirror episode Be Right Back, which explored a similar premise years ago. What once felt speculative now appears technically feasible. Nonetheless, it’s far from becoming mainstream.
Whether Meta ever turns this into a real feature is unclear. What is clear is that the conversation around digital legacy, AI replication and online identity isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
