TikTok Introduces AMBER Alerts in the U.S. to Help Locate Missing Children
TikTok is expanding its efforts to support public safety by integrating AMBER Alerts into its platform in the United States. If a child goes missing in your area, you will now see an AMBER Alert directly within your For You feed, helping spread crucial information more quickly.
In an example shared by TikTok, the alert includes a photo of the missing child, along with relevant details such as their name, age, and last known location. Users will also see an option to call 911 for immediate assistance.
TikTok is rolling out this feature in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a nonprofit organization that plays a key role in child safety efforts and receives significant funding from the U.S. government.
This initiative aligns TikTok with other major tech platforms, such as Google and Facebook, which have previously implemented AMBER Alerts to enhance efforts in locating missing children.
TikTok’s AMBER Alerts Feature Saw Over 20 Million Views During Initial Testing in Texas
TikTok first piloted the AMBER Alerts feature in Texas last year, where it received over 20 million views on the platform. Encouraged by these results, the company has now expanded the feature nationwide in the United States.
Despite uncertainty over its future in the U.S., TikTok has continued rolling out child safety initiatives. One such feature reminds teen users to “wind down” after 10 PM, encouraging healthier screen time habits.
AMBER Alerts are already a key part of the U.S. emergency notification system, with automatic alerts sent to phones whenever a child is reported missing. Over the years, several other tech platforms have integrated AMBER Alerts, including:
- Uber and Waze (both added AMBER Alerts in 2015)
- Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), which have long supported missing child notifications
With TikTok now joining this effort, the platform aims to leverage its massive user base to increase awareness and speed up recovery efforts for missing children.
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