Facebook stepping up to assist in disaster relief efforts

Social media is saving lives – a bold statement perhaps, however as smartphone usage continues to grow, it is becoming a whole lot easier to contact loved ones and emergency services should a catastrophe hit. Even when power is lost, mobiles can become the go-to tool in emergency situations.

Take for instance, Hurricane Sandy which saw a peak in Facebook and Twitter activity from citizens, left with just their mobiles as a means of communication. Social played an integral role in filling the gaps for residents to seek assistance and connect with officials, and to let loved ones know that they are safe and sound.

Facebook has made recent efforts to support disaster relief by introducing a new feature called “Safety Check” which will make it easier for its users to let friends and family know that they are safe after a disaster strikes. The added feature was developed following the 2011 Japanese earthquake and Tsunami which devastated the region and affected more than 12.5 million people, who used social networks to stay in touch with family and friends.  Consequently Facebook developed a Disaster Message Board, as an easier means to communicate with loved ones.

Following an overwhelming response to the message board “Safety Check” was born. The button is enabled, when a natural disaster or accident takes place to locate the user and send a notification to those who are within the vicinity of the affected area. If you’re ok, simply select the option, “I’m fine”, which will automatically generate an update within your newsfeed.

Source: Facebook

Facebook announced:

“In times of disaster or crisis, people turn to Facebook to check on loved ones and get updates. It is in these moments that communication is most critical both for people in the affected areas and for their friends and families anxious for news.”

The tool is already available globally on iOS, Android and desktop.

Latest Posts

Social Snapshot 22.10.25 banner, blue globe background, bold white title and date. Newsletter issue on long-form social video with platform specs, paid limits, YouTube TV viewing, TikTok Creator Rewards (>1-minute), Instagram 3-minute Reels, measurement and AEO tips
Read More
this post unpacks why b2b isn’t boring and how it’s moved from nice-to-have to mission-critical. it argues for trust as a working system (clear claims, named sources, human voices), puts short, sourced answers where people and ai look (linkedin, youtube, communities), and shows why people beat logos for credibility. it backs hybrid buying journeys that give control and timely human support, and it tracks intent signals like saves, sends and branded search. if b2b is your world, join us at socialday b2b forum 2025 at bounce, shoreditch on 12 november to go deeper.
Read More
If you’re a B2B marketer, you can probably see your buyer is changing. Your meetings seem to have more and more senior-positioned folk who are younger, digitally native, and social pioneers. It’s time to adapt accordingly. They research on their phones, trust creators more than brands, and expect to feel…
Read More