On this pivotal Election Day, musicians from diverse political backgrounds are actively engaging with their fans on social media, urging them to exercise their right to vote. Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Ted Nugent, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, and Aretha Franklin are part of this movement, utilizing their platforms to inspire civic participation. However, it’s worth noting the unusual nature of social media posts from artists who have passed away, particularly Petty and Franklin, who both left us years ago—Petty in 2017 and Franklin in 2018. This phenomenon raises questions about the authenticity and management of their online identities.

A co-worker of mine remarked that it can often feel “weird and gross” when social media accounts of deceased artists remain active, posting messages without clear indication of who is actually behind these communications. This lack of transparency can create confusion among fans, especially when they see posts that seem to reflect the views or sentiments of artists who can no longer share their perspectives. The blurred lines of communication in the digital age raise ethical considerations regarding the legacy and representation of artists after their passing.

Things become particularly unsettling when these accounts comment on or pay tribute to other recently deceased musicians. A striking example is an account attributed to Janis Joplin, who passed away in 1970, which recently honored Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who died just last month. The post lacks any indication that it is not Joplin herself making this tribute, leaving fans in the dark about the true authorship of the message. This situation highlights the importance of clarity and respect in the digital memorialization of artists.

The solution to this dilemma is straightforward: social media accounts of deceased celebrities should consider updating their usernames to include terms like “estate,” “team,” “management,” or “family” to signify that these accounts are managed by others. Additionally, a brief author credit at the end of each post can provide necessary clarity to followers. The Prince estate, for example, successfully executes this practice by adding author credits to their tributes, such as their recent homage to Quincy Jones.

If possible, any quotes from the deceased artist regarding the person or subject matter at hand should be integrated into the post, clearly indicating when and how they expressed those sentiments. While the dynamics of inactive bands present a different challenge, they also demand transparency. The official Twitter account of The Doors recently shared a tribute to Lesh without clarifying whether it was composed by surviving members Robby Krieger and John Densmore or if it was a statement from the estate, leaving fans uncertain about the source.

Admittedly, on a day like today, our nation faces more pressing issues—like shaping the future of democracy. However, once the dust settles, addressing the clarity and management of deceased artists’ social media accounts should be an easy fix on our collective to-do list.