France terror attack: Social networking giant Facebook activates safety check tool

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In wake of the France terror attack, social media giant Facebook has activated its safety check feature.

A large truck moved through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing at least 80 people after which the Mark Zuckerberg-owned Facebook turned it on.

According to CNET, it is the third time in nearly a month that the social networking giant has activated the tool.

The feature allows people to notify their friends if they are in the affected area and mark themselves as safe.

A click or tap on the "I'm Safe" button lets friends and loved ones know straight away. Users can also check to see whether their friends are safe too.

"Last month, we began testing features that allow people to both initiate and share Safety Check on Facebook," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.

"We hope the people in the area find the tool a helpful way to let their friends and family know they are OK," the spokesperson added.

(With IANS inputs)