Facebook will provide “Look Back” video to dead users’ loved ones

Gigaom

Facebook(s fb) is changing its policies for deceased users, offering loved ones the chance to obtain a video montage of someone who has passed. The news comes weeks after Facebook, in response to a YouTube plea, granted a grieving father’s request to see his late son’s “Look Back” video, a one-minute compilation the company offers to all its users.

In a policy statement issued on Friday, Facebook said it received many additional requests for videos of the deceased, and it now has a page where loved ones can make such requests.

The statement also announces a change to “memorial pages.” These are Facebook profiles of late users that remain online, allowing people to leave tribute messages.

Until now, only a dead person’s Facebook friends could view their memorial page. Now, the company explains that anyone will be able to see the page — if that is what a person permitted when they were…

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As memories stay online, social companies like Facebook must find better ways to help grieving families

Gigaom

A Missouri man posted a video on YouTube(s goog) this week, asking “Mr. Zuckerberg” to pass on his late son’s Look Back video, a short movie montage that Facebook(s fb) recently gave to all its users. The man described his plea, which came two years after his 21-year-old son’s death, as a long shot — but it worked.

The YouTube video received more than 1 million views after it received attention on sites like Reddit and BuzzFeed, and Facebook soon responded:

In response to an email inquiry, Facebook confirmed the man’s story but could provide few additional details. A spokesperson wrote:

With the number of people using our service, it’s often very difficult to act on behalf of one. But John’s story and emotion moved us to take action — so we did. This experience reinforced to us that there’s more Facebook can do to help people celebrate and commemorate…

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