Facebook Activates Safety Check in Orlando For The First Time in US

Nathan Ernest Olupot June 13, 2016

Less than a minute

Last year, Facebook Inc. vowed to turn on the Safety Check more often during disasters in response to criticism that it enabled the function after Islamic State militant attacks on Paris.

The feature allows Facebook users to spread the word that they are safe in wake of a natural disaster or a crisis in the affected area.

The social messaging company on Sunday activated its “Safety Check” for the first time in the US. after a gunman massacred 50 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

“Waking up this morning, I was deeply saddened to hear about the shooting in Orlando. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the LGBT community, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg writes on his Facebook Page.” We’ve activated Safety Check, but the biggest need over the next few days will be for people to continue to donate blood.”

Social Media giants, Facebook Inc. activated the Safety Check feature in the US for the first ever. The shooting left 50 people dead, 53 wounded and reported as the worst mass shooting in US history.

Reuters reports, a gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday in the worst mass shooting in US history. Police killed the shooter at the Pulse nightclub, who was identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Florida resident and a US citizen.

The incident quickly emerged as a top trending topic on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #PrayforOrlando being one of the top posts throughout the day.

Facebook has also enabled a feature that allows you to change your profile picture with a quote “WE ARE ORLANDO” in support of Orlando.