Facebook has apologised following a “terrible error” which led to users, including founder Mark Zuckerberg, being declared dead on the site due to a technical glitch.
On Friday profiles were displaying memorial messages which told users’ loved ones they hoped would “find comfort in the things others share to remember and celebrate” their lives.
This is known as “memorialising” and Facebook’s own CEO, Zuckerberg, displayed the error on his profile.
The problem was reportedly quickly fixed.
A Facebook spokesman told the BBC: “This was a terrible error that we have now fixed. We are very sorry that this happened.”
In 2015, the social networking site introduced the option to memorialise a profile, which allows a trusted friend or family member to take control of a user’s profile after they die.
Once Facebook is notified of a user’s death, the profile is then memorialised.
The designated trustee is able to post a message to appear at the top of the timeline as well as to respond to new friend requests and change the profile and cover photos.