Instagram users will now receive AMBER alerts if a child goes missing in their area.
The social media platform announced the update on Wednesday (June 1) in a blog post saying, “We know that the chances of finding a missing child increase when more people are on the lookout, especially in the first few hours. With this update, if an AMBER Alert is activated by law enforcement and you are in the designated search area, the alert will now appear in your Instagram feed.”
The alert will include important details about the child such as a photo, description, location of the abduction and any other available information that can be provided. Users can also share the alert with friends to further spread the word.
The company explained that the alerts will be specific to each user’s area. “In order to know who to show these alerts to, we use a variety of signals, including the city you list on your profile, your IP address, and location services (if you have it turned on),” they shared.
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