Facebook Safety Check Feature: What It Is and How It Works

Immediately after natural disasters or emergencies, Facebook activates its Safety Check feature for users near the affected area. Once the feature is activated, users receive notifications asking if they are safe. This allows people in disaster-hit areas to quickly inform others about their safety. Consequently, during natural disasters or emergencies, it becomes easy to know through Facebook whether friends and family are safe.

The Safety Check feature was initiated by Facebook after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Initially, it was called the Disaster Message Board. On 15 October 2014, the feature was officially renamed Safety Check.

The feature was first used on a large scale following the 25 April 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Later, Facebook activated it after earthquakes, cyclones, and terrorist attacks in various countries. In November 2015, it was used for the first time in response to a non-natural disaster, following the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. On 22 March 2016, the feature was also activated after explosions at an airport and railway station in Brussels.

Recently, after several earthquakes in Bangladesh, Facebook activated the Safety Check feature. Through this feature, users were able to notify others of their safety and check on the status of friends and family.

Source: Meta

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