Facebook: Does Safety Check Help Or Hurt?

Facebook’s Safety Check is “stressing Brits out,” said Katie Collins on CNET.com.

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The feature – which prompts users to click a box in their profile to let friends and family members know they’re not in danger when emergencies, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks happen in their immediate area – has been activated at least four times in the United Kingdom this year. But instead of putting users’ minds at ease, Safety Check seems to be doing the opposite. When “I’m safe” prompts began to appear after last week’s devastating high-rise apartment fire in London, even users living miles away from the blaze were asked to mark themselves unharmed. “Some questioned whether the feature heightened the sense of panic, added to the anxiety, or made it seem like you were somehow affected when you weren’t.” Others wondered why Facebook needs to offer such assurances at all. “If you were worried about someone, wouldn’t y