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Facebook Tests 'Safe' User Tag For Disasters

Posted by timothy on from the or-you-could-post-a-comment-on-slashdot dept.

aesoteric writes "Facebook has embarked on a nationwide test of a new disaster message board for users across Japan. The feature allows users to mark themselves as being 'safe' in the event of a disaster. Doing so introduces a 'safe' insignia next to their name on their profile. The Facebook announcement appeared to be geoblocked."

2 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Lame by psnyder · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Following the Fukushima quake, all phone networks were down to allow for emergency traffic only (I live in Tokyo). Internet was the only way to get a message out for a while. I sent a quick email to family who hadn't woken up in the states yet, because I was sure it would be on the news networks when they woke up.

    However, the following few days, people I barely knew or hadn't spoken to in ages, started coming out the woodwork, asking if I was okay. This feature is not a bad idea. It sure beats my mother plastering messages all over my wall, trying to tell people I'm okay.

  2. Expiry time? by FunPika · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Okay so what if someone marks themselves as safe...then a few minutes later another earthquake hits and a roof falls on their head or something similar. Will the tag expire after a certain amount of time?

    --
    After years of not using a signature, I am going to make one to say the following: Fuck Beta