There is such a thing as corporate responsibility. When a company commands a position in society that makes it a communication resource and societal monitor reflecting the culture, it must accept corporate responsibility.
Accepting corporate responsibility means using the products for more than profit. It means using the product to improve society as a whole. It means using the product to alleviate suffering in some way. It means using the product for the good of the people in order to cultivate an appreciation for the company beyond the product. Corporate responsibility means giving something in return. That’s what Facebook has done.
Amber Alerts
Facebook has begun to use its incredible reach among the people of the world to help society deal with problems and issues. As a communication tool Facebook is helping to find our missing children. It announced a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children . Facebook will begin placing Amber Alerts in user news feeds informing people about abducted children at risk of serious harm. The alerts will be area specific around the child’s general location pre-determined by law enforcement. According to Facebook some people will see a few alerts each year, while others may not see any at all.
The Amber Alerts on Facebook are not immediate but they will have more detail than other forms of an alert. Amber Alerts on Facebook include a photo of the child, a description of the situation, and a link to learn more. Facebook users will also have the ability to share the alerts.
Safety Check
Facebook has introduced a new feature for people who may find themselves in a natural disaster or other major emergency. The new feature from Facebook known as Safety Check’ works via push notifications. The app sends a notification to your handset if you’re in an area identified as dangerous. The feature works off information like cities listed in your profiles, last locations on Nearby Friends and the city you’re connecting to the Internet from.
Once you receive the notice you are given the option to select either ‘I’m Safe’ or ‘I’m not in this area.’ This response will then post a news feed story to your friends informing them you are safe. The Safety Check is available on Android and Apple phones and desktops to ensure that all devices in a disaster zone are reachable.
Suicide Prevention
Facebook announced on February 25th it is adding tools to its interface so users can easily report Facebook friends possibly considering suicide.
A Facebook community operations safety specialist, said, “If someone on Facebook sees a direct threat of suicide, we ask that they contact their local emergency services immediately. We also ask them to report any troubling content to us. We have teams working around the world, 24/7, who review any report that comes in.”
The tools work after someone reports a troubling post. Facebook safety specialists will review the post and if they believe the person is at risk, a message will pop up the next time he or she visits Facebook. It will say, “A friend thinks you might be going through something difficult and asked us to look at your recent post.” A second message says: “You matter to us, so we want to offer support if you need it. You’re not alone. We do this for many people every month. What would you like to do?”
Facebook then gives the user the option to “reach out to a friend or helpline worker” or “learn how to work through this using some simple tips.” Users also have the option to ignore the messages.
Facebook is not the most loved company in the world. It has come under scrutiny and suffered criticism even on this blog. Like many companies not everyone agrees with its business practices and they have a busy legal department to prove it. But like many major corporations they have a conscience and a desire to make a difference beyond making a profit. These features prove that Facebook understands its position and power in society. They clearly understand the responsibility of providing a means of communication beyond anything history has ever known. They understand the issues of a society that has seized the power called social media. Facebook is not all fun and games and it is not all bad either.
Now you know.