The Ultimate Guide: How to Turn Off Amber Alerts
Amber Alerts are emergency notifications sent to smartphones and other compatible mobile devices to inform the public of abducted children or other critical situations. These alerts are powerful tools that help to save lives and locate missing people. However, some people may find them disruptive or distracting, especially if they receive numerous notifications per day.
This article provides a guide on how to turn off Amber Alerts on your smartphone. However, before we dive into the specifics, let’s take a look at why Amber Alerts are important and how they save lives.
The Importance of Amber Alerts
Amber Alerts have helped to recover hundreds of children across the United States since their inception in 1996. These alerts are critical in cases of child abduction or the risk of serious injury or death. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that around 76% of abducted children who are found are recovered within the first 3 hours, while 88% are found within the first day. Amber Alerts can help to locate a child before they are harmed and provide vital information to the public to help find them.
It’s important to note the pertinence of Amber Alerts and their role in keeping communities safe. Although some people may find them disruptive, these alerts are essential for public safety. If you receive an Amber Alert, it’s best to take it seriously and follow the instructions provided. Remember, you could be the person who provides the missing piece of information the police need to locate a missing individual.
Alternatives to Turning off Amber Alerts
If you find Amber Alerts disruptive or distracting, there are ways to manage them without turning them off completely. You can keep your device on silent mode or activate “Do not disturb” during specific hours you choose. Therefore, the alert will still pop-up on your notification center, but you won’t receive any audible or physical notifications.
In addition, you can receive Amber Alerts via email notifications or social media updates from local law enforcement agencies. This way, you can still stay informed without direct notifications to your device.
How to Turn Off Amber Alerts
If you decide to turn off Amber Alerts, it’s essential to weigh the risks. Turning off Amber Alerts could put a child’s life in danger if you have essential information that could help locate them.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to turn off Amber Alerts on both Android and iOS devices:
Android Devices
1. Open the “Settings” app
2. Scroll down and select “Apps & notifications”
3. Select “Emergency alerts”
4. Toggle off “Amber alerts”
5. Save your changes
iOS Devices
1. Open the “Settings” app
2. Select “Notifications”
3. Scroll down to “Government Alerts” and toggle off “Amber Alerts”
4. Save your changes
Some devices might require additional steps to turn off Amber Alerts. Ensure to check your device settings or contact your device provider for guidance if you’re experiencing difficulties.
Customizing Amber Alerts
If you still want to receive certain types of alerts while filtering out others, you can customize how Amber Alerts are delivered. For example, you can choose to receive only severe or extreme alerts instead of all alerts.
To customize Amber Alerts, follow these steps:
Android Devices
1. Open the “Settings” app
2. Scroll down and select “Apps & notifications”
3. Select “Emergency alerts”
4. Select the type of alert you want to turn on or off
iOS Devices
1. Open the “Settings” app
2. Select “Notifications”
3. Scroll down to “Government Alerts” and select “AMBER Alerts”
4. Choose to receive all, some, or none of the alerts
Remember that some alerts, such as extreme weather alerts, are critical and could put your life in danger. Therefore, only turn off alerts that you deem non-critical.
Expert Interviews
According to Sergeant Luiz Dantas, a retired police officer and spokesperson for the National Association of School Resource Officers, “Amber alerts work. They save lives, and they’re essential tools for law enforcement. Turning off Amber Alerts could be detrimental to the safety of children and communities.”
Emphasizing the importance of these alerts, Sgt. Dantas also noted that many people mistakenly believe that Amber Alerts only apply to child abduction. “Amber Alerts could inform the public of vehicular abductions, which pose an immediate and life-threatening threat to the abducted person,” continues Sgt. Dantas.
Potential Negative Consequences
The primary negative consequence of turning off Amber Alerts is putting a child in danger due to missing critical information that could help safely recover them. It’s crucial to weigh the benefits and risks before turning off Amber Alerts and consider alternative solutions such as managing your notifications to prevent constant disruptions.
Conclusion
Amber Alerts are essential tools for law enforcement and can save lives. Although they can be disruptive or distracting, turning them off should only be done in rare cases. In most situations, Amber Alerts should be taken seriously, and alternative solutions utilized. Ultimately, it’s essential to remember that Amber Alerts play a vital role in keeping the public safe and informed.