Facebook’s Safety Check leads technology’s support of Paris

Social network activates feature previously used during natural disasters, while other apps and tools help those caught in aftermath of terrorist attacks

Facebook activated its Safety Check service for a terrorist incident for the first time during the Paris attacks, allowing people to notify their loved ones that they were safe.

The social network said that it would consider using the feature - which until now has been limited to natural disasters - more widely, following criticism in failing to activate the tool in the wake of terrorist attacks in Beirut on Thursday.