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Additional details - http://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=9a5a45a2046760c...

Yeah, I followed up on it, and it's very obviously real.

I rushed to get a picture of my phone alert online, but am now writing my thoughts on the uses of technology in situations like this and potential downsides.

I rushed to get a picture of my phone alert online

Why?

Primarily because I thought other people would be curious as to why their phones were going crazy.

This is has never happened to me or anyone I know before, and I think it's a very interesting use of technology with several positives and negatives.

I don't get it - if someone's phone is going crazy they'll know why, because they'll pick it up and see 'Amber Alert.' This will only be confusing to people who have arrived in the US very recently and haven't heard of the term. Most people know what it is, it just hasn't been plugged into the phone network until now.

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