Twitter has launched a new service called Twitter Alerts, which would offer consumers with special alerts from government agencies and support agencies in case of emergencies and disasters.
Launched as an extension to Twitter’s ‘Lifeline’ service offered during Japan earthquake in 2012, the new service would deliver tweets from a Twitter-approved list of government and public-safety organisations.
Twitter government and politics partner manager Bridget Coyne said that when news breaks about a weather or safety emergency, government agencies and emergency responders jump into action on the ground and on Twitter, delivering critical and timely information and engaging with constituents.
"We saw this following Superstorm Sandy, the tsunami in Japan, and the manhunt in Boston,"Coyne said.
Users can also receive notifications through SMS text messages to their iPhones or Android phones in times of crisis in their surroundings.
According to the micro-blogging site, the move would help users to receive ‘important and accurate information from credible organisations during emergencies, natural disasters or moments when other communications services aren’t accessible.’
Twitter has also launched a push notification-based recommendation system that delivers customised content-suggestions when huge number of users within the network retweet or ‘favourite’ the same tweet.
Earlier this month, the microblogging service filed a Form S1 to with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) for its planned IPO issue.
