Facebook today launched what they call a "Safety Check" service to allow users to inform friends and family that they're okay after a natural disaster strikes the local area, Business Insider reports.
The "Safety Check" service is triggered in the aftermath of a natural disaster, but relies on the location you entered for accuracy. Alternatively, it could use the location settings of your device if the "Nearby Friends" feature is also activated.
Facebook's blog post says their tool helps you "friends and family know you're safe, check on others in the affected area, and mark your friends as safe." The social network also references the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami disasters, saying that "during that crisis we saw how people used technology and social media to stay connected with those they cared about."
"These events have taught us a lot about how people use Facebook during disasters and we were personally inspired to continue work on the Disaster Message Board to incorporate what we've learned. This project soon became Safety Check, which will be available globally on Android, iOS, feature phones and desktop."
The "Safety Check" works by sending an alert or notification to the user after a natural disaster, via Facebook, asking them to confirm that they're okay. The tool's dashboard also lets users see which of their friends and family in the same area have marked themselves as "okay" or safe.
Facebook's team tells users that "if you're ever in a situation that would require you to use Safety Check, we hope it's a tool that helps you stay connected to those you care about, and gives you the comfort of knowing your loved ones are safe."
Nick Summers of TheNextWeb.com agrees, saying that "natural disasters aren't disappearing any time soon and Safety Check, especially with Facebook's user base, could prove effective an effective communications tool during such events - and give you peace of mind about the safety of loved ones."