Facebook to launch new tool to save lives?

1 May 2012

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook is apparently preparing to launch a type of life-saving tool on the social networking site, that’s according to ABC News. The news anchor says it has gleaned “rare, exclusive” interviews from founder Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg this morning.

An ABC News press release has indicated that the interviews will air on its Good Morning America show this morning when Facebook founder Zuckerberg will reveal more on the life-saving tool that will aim to save lives to presenter Robin Roberts. Meanwhile, ABC News said Sandberg would give an interview on the World News with Dane Sawyer show.

The US network appears to be really capitalisng on the fact that it has managed to get both Zuckerberg and Sandberg to give interviews in one day, stating that “one of America’s most powerful businesswomen Sheryl Sandberg will sit down for an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer and discuss the personal stories that led to this new initiative and its goals”.

As to what the tool to save lives is all about, the details are hazy enough at the minute.

Back in December Facebook created a suicide prevention tool for users in the US and Canada, especially if people were concerned about their friends’ Facebook posts. The social media giant had launched a similiar suicide prevention tool in Ireland and the UK earlier in 2011with the Samaritans.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com