Social media response to Paris attack raises questions
The large social media reaction to Friday's terror attacks in Paris has left some wondering where the social support was after the twin suicide bombing in a Beirut suburb just a day earlier.
"Hey Facebook can we get a Beirut color option also for profile pics," tweeted comedian Sanjay Manaktala regarding one of two features the social network launched following violent attacks that left more than 125 people dead and injured more than 350 others, 99 of whom were seriously injured.
Facebook also turned on its "Safety Check" feature to allow people inside Paris to alert their Facebook friends that they were safe, as well as allowing anyone outside the city to check on their friends.
However, the features are raising an eyebrow to those wondering why they were not rolled out following Beirut's bombings on Thursday, during which at least 43 people were killed and another 239 were wounded. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, claimed responsibility for both the Beirut and Paris attacks.
How does @facebook determine when to activate the "marked safe" feature? What are the criteria? https://t.co/6Mose1YIA1
— Alexandra Hiniker (@alexhiniker) November 14, 2015
Facebook safety check:
I survived all the previous Beirut terror attacks.
— Ziad (@Bacterioholic) November 14, 2015
Mr. Mark Zuckerberg @finkd... I can't understand why there is no safety check for #Beirut #Lebanon on #Facebook... Please explain!
— Tina Badran Kfoury (@TinaKfoury) November 14, 2015
Facebook sets up safety check for Paris friends.Thank you #facebook for this great initiative but what about Beirut and Syria...
— Samira Hamana (@SamiraHamana) November 14, 2015
Happy to see @Facebook using safety check-in, but can't escape the fact that it wasn't used in #Beirut or other non-Western active crises
— Greg Emerson (@emersongreg) November 14, 2015
Singer Bette Midler and actress Viola Davis were among celebrities offering their support to victims of both attacks.
"Let us not forget, 43 people died in Beirut and 200 were wounded on Thursday," Midler tweeted.
"Sending love, prayers, and positive thoughts to everyone in Beirut, Baghdad, and Paris," the "How to Get Away with Murder" star posted to Instagram.
A photo posted by Viola Davis (@violadavis) on