Facebook Updates Crisis Response Center

Facebook on Thursday unveiled a new and improved crisis response “center” within its flagship property.

The company is encouraging people to use the new center as a recourse before, during and after natural and manmade disasters.

Along with information about specific disasters, the digital destination will house Facebook’s existing crisis-response tools, including Fundraisers, Community Help and its Safety Check check-in service.

By virtue of its immense size and social presence, Facebook already sees itself as an indispensable recourse during difficult times.

“When there is a crisis, people use Facebook to let their friends and family know they’re safe, learn and share more about what’s happening, and help communities recover,” Mike Nowak, product director for “Social Good” at Facebook, notes in a new blog post.

As part of the update, Facebook also plans to give its response center a more prominent placement on its app.

“People will be able to access crisis response on Facebook in the upcoming weeks from the homepage on desktop or from the menu button on their phone,” according to Nowak.

Additionally, when people receive Safety Check notifications -- or learn that a crisis has occurred -- Facebook will now include links to articles, photos and videos from public posts so people can access more information about a crisis in one place.

To help provide additional crisis details, Safety Check activations and related information may also appear in the News Feed.

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