Facebook to place 'missing child alerts' in users' newsfeeds

Facebook is starting to use its huge user base to help locate missing children by placing alerts about such kids into its users' News Feed.

The company announced a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children yesterday to begin inserting AMBER Alerts, which would inform people about missing children at risk of serious harm, into their News Feed, reported The Verge.

The alerts will appear only in specific areas, determined by law enforcement, around the child's general location. Facebook said that it expected some people to see a few alerts every year while others may not see any at all.

AMBER Alerts have been in use for nearly two decades now and have consistently adapted to new technology to get the word out in a better way.

The ones that will appear on Facebook will include a photo of the child, a brief description of the situation, and a link to learn more. The social media platform will also allow its users to share the alerts.