Internet / Social Media

Facebook to Unveil New 'Life Saving' Tool on Good Morning America on Tuesday: What Could it be?

Jonathan Charles

Facebook's growth from college-wide identity lookup to worldwide social network has seen plenty of positive and negatives experiences for Mark Zukcerberg and his team, but the social network's latest feature could be life changing. On Tuesday, May 1, Zuckerberg will appear on Good Morning America to unveil a new 'life saving' tool.

ABC announced on Monday, April 30, that Robin Roberts will interview the Facebook CEO. The interview will take place in Facebook's new offices in Menlo Park, California, which span 79 acres of space.

Facebook COO - Sheryl Sandberg - will talk to the press after the announcement, and will talk to ABC's Diane Sawyer also. ABC said Sandberg will talk about the "personal stories" that led to the new tool.

"Facebook has location info, so it knows where you are. It also knows who you are and who is in your network, including family. With that kind of information, they could bring an applet that allows you to broadcast emergency messages through Facebook," Zeus Kerravala, a ZK Research analyst, said when speaking to Computerworld. Such a feature sounds like an expanded Find My iPhone, which allows Apple users to see the location of lost or stolen devices through an app on another iOS device. Kerravala added the tool would help Facebook become more ingrained in users' lives.

"Just think, Facebook could send a push notification to anyone you choose in your network that you're in trouble. It's now the best, fastest way of sending info to everyone in your life," he added.

Facebook partnered with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), where users are encouraged to report links to suicidal comments posted on the social network. A message is then sent to the user, with a phone number to call the lifeline.

Facebook hasn't shared word on what the tool is beforehand, but it shouldn't be too long before the company reveals all. Clips from the interview will be on Tuesday's Nightline show, ABC News and Yahoo's Newsmaker show.

Facebook is readying for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) this month, where the company is expected to be valued up to $100 billion.

(reported by Jonathan Charles, edited by Dave Clark)

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