Facebook creates ‘Crisis Response’ hub to help users stay informed

By Anuj Sharma - September 15, 2017
facebook crisis response
The new centre allows users to find more information about recent crises and access crisis response tools -- including Safety Check, Community Help and Fundraisers to support crisis recovery – all i....

Over the previous years’ Facebook has positioned itself as one of the most influential social platforms of the world. A wise man once said great power follows great responsibility and to help its over two billion users informed during a disaster, Facebook has introduced a “Crisis Response” hub.

The new centre allows users to find more information about recent crises and access crisis response tools -- including Safety Check, Community Help and Fundraisers to support crisis recovery – all in one place.

As part of this update, Facebook is also introducing links to articles, videos and photos posted publicly by the Facebook community, to help people be more informed about a crisis.

Facebook has developed a number of crisis response tools and when there is a crisis, people use the social network to mark themselves safe.

In the coming weeks people will be able to access Crisis Response on Facebook from the homepage on desktop or from the menu button on their phone. They will see the following tools when they’re on a crisis page:

Safety Check: an easy way to let your friends and family know you’re safe. It will continue to work the same way it does today and will be featured at the top of each crisis page if you are in the affected area.

Links to Articles, Photos and Videos: crisis-related content from public posts can help people learn more about a crisis.

Community Help: people can ask for and give help to communities affected by the crisis.

Fundraisers: let people create fundraisers and donate to support those affected by the crisis and non-profit organisations helping with relief efforts.

Currently, during crisis when people receive Safety Check notifications or learn that an unusual event has happened, Facebook does not tell much about the incident. But this is going to change and Facebook will now include links to articles, photos, and videos from public posts so people have access to more information about a crisis in one place.

Safety Check activations and related information may also appear in News Feed to help provide additional details about a crisis.

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