Facebook Safety Check In Paris Attack Criticised For Not Being Used In Beirut Bombing

Facebook has come under scrutiny for activating a 'safety check' after the Paris terror attacks, but promoting no similar action after explosions in Beirut.
The safety check feature allows people caught up in major incidents such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters to inform friends and family on Facebook that they are not in danger.
On Friday 13 November a deadly terror plot took over Paris, which has so far killed up to 129 people. On Thursday, November 12, twin explosions in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, killed 43 people and wounded more than 200 others.

An activist holds a candle and a flower during a candle light ceremony condemning the Paris attacks Users on social media suggested the platform's approach implied the lives of Western victims were being prioritised over those in the Middle East:

Apparently Beirut doesn't deserve a safety check on Facebook.

— DenniS the menace (@densection) November 15, 2015

Attack in France is a huge news event prompting outpouring of emotion -- yet attack in Lebanon is largely ignored https://t.co/uTYgPWZf5c

— David Sirota (@davidsirota) November 14, 2015

I must admit that I'm a little confused as to why Safety Check was enabled in Paris and not in Beirut.

— Eleanor Saitta (@Dymaxion) November 14, 2015

it's great there's a safety check on Facebook for those in Paris, but why isn't there one for Beirut and Baghdad...😒

— eve (@evieprendergast) November 14, 2015

Happy to see @Facebook using safety check-in, but can't escape the fact that it wasn't used in #Beirut or other non-Western active crises

— Greg Emerson (@emersongreg) November 14, 2015

Before the attacks in France, the safety tool had only previously been used after natural disasters such the recent earthquake in Pakistan.