Facebook, SMS Warn Of School Shootings - Networking For Safety (VIDEO)

Facebook, the most widely used social networking tool among students, is not only one of the best ways to keep tabs on your social life, but is also being recognized for the its ability to alert people in times of crisis, such as school shootings. As the new school year kicked off, a range of North American colleges and universities integrated high tech new programs to function as a vital communication tool when danger strikes.

After last year’s incident at Virginia Tech, educational institutes aren’t willing to risk a similar situation. At St. John’s University, students were alerted via text message when a masked student with a loaded rifle made his way on campus—within 18 minutes, the alert was out. At the University of Wisconsin, an ad was placed on Facebook warning students of a suicidal gunman.