How many dead people are on the internet?

The internet functions as a vast, permanent archive where the digital footprints of deceased users accumulate, often remaining active indefinitely due to the lack of consistent deletion policies by major tech companies. While platforms like Google and Apple offer limited legacy contact options, most accounts persist, creating a "digital afterlife" that poses significant legal and emotional challenges for survivors. Research suggests that dead profiles on platforms like Facebook could eventually outnumber the living, transforming the internet into a historical repository rather than a purely contemporary space. This reality forces a shift in how society views digital remains, moving from a default of erasure to a complex need for preservation. Artists and legal scholars are now advocating for new rituals and legislative frameworks to manage this data, balancing the privacy of the deceased with the emotional needs of those left behind.