Hours after the terror attacks in Paris that left at least 127 people dead, Facebook rolled out its 'Safety Check' feature. This is the first time the 'Safe Check' feature has been activated following a non-natural disaster-related incident.

This Facebook feature is, however, not a stranger to its users.  It was inspired by the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan where people utilized the social media site to reach out. Launched in 2014, the 'Safety Check' was been used during the earthquake that shook Nepal in April. Aside from that, it has been activated four more times, including during the Afghanistan and Chile's earthquakes, South Pacific's tropical cyclone Pam and Philippine's typhoon Ruby that all happened this year.

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Wondering why only a few were sent a message? Well, Facebook utilizes users geo-location to determine who lives or is travelling in the affected areas. The company then sends them a notification inquiring about their safety and encouraging them to reach out to their friends and families who might be worried by "checking in" to inform they are safe.

This past Friday was the first time the system was used a non-natural disaster-related situation. Facebook's vice president for growth Alex Schultz said "There has to be a first time for trying something new, even in complex and sensitive times, and for us that was Paris."

"We chose to activate Safety Check in Paris because we observed a lot of activity on Facebook as the events were unfolding. In the middle of a complex, uncertain situation affecting many people, Facebook became a place where people were sharing information and looking to understand the condition of their loved ones." 

Answering questions about why Facebook's 'Safety Check' was activated during the Paris attacks and not during the bombing in Beirut, Schultz responded saying "During an ongoing crisis, like war or epidemic, Safety Check in its current form is not that useful for people: because there isn't a clear start or end point and, unfortunately, it's impossible to know when someone is truly 'safe.' "

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