The feature was developed by Facebook engineers , inspired by people 's use of social media to connect with friends and family in the wake of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami . Originally named the Disaster Message Board , it was renamed to Safety Check prior to release . It was introduced on October 15 , 2014 . Its first major deployment was on Saturday , April 25 , 2015 , in the wake of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake . The tool was deployed again in the wake of the May 2015 Nepal earthquake , during Pacific Hurricane Patricia in October 2015 , and during the November 2015 Paris attacks , the latter being the first time the tool was used in response to a non-natural disaster . On March 22 , 2016 , during reports of explosions at an airport and train station in Brussels , the feature was turned on again , but there was a delay in turning it on after it was revealed it was a suicide bomber attack . Facebook Safety Check closes down on May 6 , 2019
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Facebook Safety Check