Facebook recently tested a new feature in Japan that lets users notify friends and family that they’re safe during a disaster. Called the Disaster Message Board, the feature adds a “mark safe” button that can be clicked to add a “safe” tag on both your profile and those of your friends, making it easy for people to see how you’re doing in an emergency situation — sort of like a social networking version of the picture-filled message boards typically used during a crisis. The feature was only in place briefly, with Facebook asking users to test it out so that “you’ll know how to use it if a real disaster occurs.” In the future, Facebook says the “mark safe” option will only be available during disasters.
Disaster Message Board lets Facebook users mark themselves safe during emergencies
A new feature is being tested by Facebook that allows users to mark themselves as safe during disaster situations.
A new feature is being tested by Facebook that allows users to mark themselves as safe during disaster situations.
is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.
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