Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

FB adds crisis support to check-in tool

Facebook's natural disaster check-in tool Safety Check has added a feature allowing users to offer food, shelter and transportation after a crisis.

A screen showing social networking web site Facebook

Facebook is extending its natural disaster check-in tool, so that users can offer food and shelter. (AAP) Source: AAP

Facebook is extending its natural disaster check-in tool Safety Check, so that users of the social network can offer food, shelter and transportation after a crisis.

Safety Check, which launched in 2014, is currently used by those close to the epicentre of a crisis to tell their friends and family that they are safe.

Now a new tool called Community Help is being introduced that enables those unaffected to offer help to others.

Safety Check has been used in the past in the aftermath of such events as the Paris terror attacks in 2015.

Facebook said the feature will initially be deployed in Australia, the US, Canada,New Zealand, India and Saudi Arabia before being rolled out globally.

"With Community Help people can find and give help, and message others directly to connect after a crisis," Facebook's Naomi Gleit said.

"Posts can be viewed by category and location, making it easier for people to find the help they need.

"We saw the community do this on their own through Groups and posts, like in the aftermath of the flooding in Chennai, India, in December 2015, but we knew we could do more."


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world