Qatar becomes first in region to launch missing children alerts on Facebook, Instagram

Qatar launched an alert service on Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday to help find missing children, making it the first country in the Middle East.

The move was announced by the ministry of information as part of a collaboration with the two social media platforms' mother company Meta, The Peninsula Qatar reported.

Using the platforms' AMBER alert system, users within a 160km radius of a missing report will receive an alert. The reports can be shared by Instagram and Facebook users, allowing for greater awareness.

🧒A new smart alert feature has been launched on Facebook and Instagram that notifies subscribers of missing children in the area! #ILoveQatar #QatarNews #Qatarhttps://t.co/pRzOEgx6zm

— ILoveQatar - Live (@ILQLive) September 8, 2022

Qatari authorities hope the initiative will encourage community members to contribute to the safety of their communities through the use of using social media.

"Adopting a proactive approach is what keeps Qatar at the forefront of the safest countries in the world," said the ministry of interior's director of public relations, Brig. Abdullah Khalifa Al-Muftah, at the press conference in Doha.

Qatar was ranked the world's safest country in the world in the Numbeo Safety Index 2022, and has consistently received high rankings in the index.

The tiny Gulf state was also ranked as the safest country in the Middle East in the Global Terrorism Index for 2022.