<p>Given that social media is a relatively new phenomenon, what happens to an online account when a user dies is still being explored.</p><p>Armed with little more than the terms of service for Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail, and certainly not a law degree, we broke down how the three social network giants deal with a users death.</p><p>When it comes to Gmail, it should be noted that impersonating a Gmail user is a violation of the Gmail terms of service. If Google finds out that an account is being improperly used, they can suspend or terminate the account at their discretion. That said, in theory, you could bequeath your account to a loved one and legally transfer ownership.</p><p>Should a person die and not leave their password to a loved one however, their account will shut down after nine months of inactivity.</p><p><a href="http://o.canada.com/2013/01/24/how-to-plan-for-your-online-death/">Keep reading...</a></p>