People Are Using Social Media to Find Safety and Loved Ones Amidst Paris Attacks
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As news unfolds about the terrorist attacks happening in Paris, social media is answering a much-needed call during this devastating time. People in the Paris area are taking to Facebook and Twitter to notify loved ones that they are unharmed during the attacks and to get strangers to safety if they need shelter. While social media definitely has its faults, these features are not only practical in application, but also incredibly comforting in such a troubled time.
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On Facebook
In light of tonight's Paris attacks, Facebook turned on its Safety Check feature released earlier this year. The feature allows users to notify their followers that they are safe and unharmed during times of crisis or disaster, and users can also identify friends as being safe, too.
To use, simply go to the Facebook Safety page to mark yourself or a friend as being safe during a crisis. A notification will then appear in the News Feeds of all your followers, letting them know you are unharmed. In a worrisome situation like tonight's attacks, it has been a simple one-step process that individuals have been using to calm the minds of all their loved ones.
On Twitter
On Twitter, it wasn't long before those in Paris began coming together as a community to offer support and shelter. Users there were tweeting out #PorteOuverte as a way to offer shelter to anyone who may have been in harm's way and in need — especially in the 10th and 11th arrondissements, where a majority of the violence was taking place. Those offering to open their homes to strangers were asking that they be direct messaged (DM) to avoid broadcasting their addresses to anyone who might be trolling the hashtag.