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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCell users complain: Too many Amber Alerts
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57567094/cell-users-complain-too-many-amber-alerts/Cell users complain: Too many Amber Alerts
LOS ANGELES The next time a child is abducted near you, your cell phone may shriek to life with an alert message.
A new national Amber Alert system officially rolled out earlier this month to millions of cell phones, and because the alerts are automatically active on most newer phones, the messages have already taken tens of thousands of people by surprise.
The newly-expanded emergency alert system is an effort by FEMA to update the way it reaches people with new technologies, but local officials and others worry that the lack of public education and some initial stumbles may undermine the program's purpose, especially when people are startled and annoyed and choose to opt out.
Lisa Rott was jolted from her sleep at 1:44 a.m. earlier this month in her Sarasota, Fla. home. A high-pitched tone sounded in spurts for about 10 seconds while her phone buzzed multiple times.
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Cell users complain: Too many Amber Alerts (Original Post)
jsr
Feb 2013
OP
newfie11
(8,159 posts)1. I wonder how the complainers would feel if it was their child
I have only had one come across and it was a year ago so no scary noise.
I think this is a small thing if it saves one kid.
LTR
(13,227 posts)2. Amber Alerts can be turned off on at least a few phones
I know someone with a new Android phone that has that option. There are also alerts for emergency and president-issued warnings.
Plus, there is a setting to have 'quiet hours' on the phone. I activated this due to getting the daily 5AM incoming email alert.
EastKYLiberal
(429 posts)3. What a selfish bunch of antisocial primitives. nt
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)4. i disagree about that
an Amber alert that wakes me up at 2am for an abduction in Stockton, 80 miles away, does nobody any good.
in my neighborhood, yes.
in all of Central California? that alert is sadly going to get shut off.
Does more harm than good.
dsc
(52,164 posts)5. these messages should be more informative
otherwise they will be ignored.