It’s already happening by us
Most likely, authorities didn’t have the proper information to declare it an Amber Alert until that time
And I’m assuming you live in the area where it was broadcast?
On a side note, what is the point of EAS broadcasts with unintelligible audio where it can only faintly be discerned through static that a voice is even speaking? I cannot recall ever hearing one on radio or TV that was actually understandable. So far as I am aware, there’s nothing wrong with my hearing, and I do work in a call center.
Little late, but being in Chicago I noticed this too. I don’t think anything changed, at least not that I noticed or heard about, but there definitely was a barrage of alerts in a short span. My assumption is the either there was a set of coincidental events, maybe triggered by the holiday, or someone fat fingered the system to trigger more than intended or necessary.
I will say that I’m in general agreement with @SenorBeef that this probably is a poor use of the system. Hope someone is tracking the data on this to see what the effectiveness and tradeoffs are. Even if these alerts are highly effective at saving a handful of people, it’s still potentially a very bad idea. These alerts really need to be for special circumstances where getting everyone’s attention is critical, you know, like a global pandemic.
What’s a “S burb” is that just Suburb but missing a “U”?
How did Netflix know where you were? With TV and radio stations their broadcasts are local so they can give warnings to the appropriate areas. I don’t understand how a streaming service could do that.
I can’t find any info online about weather warnings on streaming services. Can you help me find a cite of this?
Most people have an external IP of their provider which allow a fairly close location. Targeted ads make use of this. My prior provided game me an external IP of Newark and I would get North East Jersey oriented ads. Verizon gave me an IP that narrowed it down to my town apparently and I got actually local ads.
I knew it was possible to get an approximate location from an IP but I didn’t know that one’s IP was widely known to any random 1 or 0 that passes through your computer.
Still I haven’t heard of Netflix actually inserting warnings into people’s shows. Do you know where I can find a cite to that?
I found this from last year, Emergency Alerts May Pop Up On Netflix, Spotify
A new piece of legislation, with bipartisan support, would require streaming services, such as Netflix, Spotify, Disney+ and more, to issue alerts in the event of a national emergency, much like television and radio stations as well as cell phones.
I’ve never had an alert on my streamers. Not even a tornado alert which would be very useful.
Yes. I also found references to the idea of this happening but I found no evidence that it ever has. So I’m hoping nearwildheaven can tell me about their experience with Netflix tornado warnings.
Pennsylvanians received a WEA text recently, warning us about COVID-19 and suggesting safe behaviors. Timed to affect people’s Thanksgiving choices, another smart move by Governor Wolf.
I forgot, we had that also. Hopefully it kept some people home instead of helping to spread COVID in the area.
This almost has to be a local problem. I’ve never had this experience in my 40+ adult years living in several different states.
It might be worth calling your county emergency management authority on a quiet calm weekday and asking them what they know about this. For sure they’ll want to know which channels or stations, where you’re located, what sort of TV or radio you’re receiving the bad broadcasts on, etc.
They’re usually a small enough office that you’re not talking to a call center and they are happy to talk to interested citizens.
I’ve read that about half of the Amber Alerts are divorce-related custody disputes where the child usually isn’t in any real danger.
I’m in favor of “big flashing panic alarm whenever kid is abducted”, but not “big flashing panic alarm to enforce a court order.” Yes, court orders should be enforced. No, you don’t need to wake me up to help do it. It’s not my area.
Edited: Okay, I found a figure. Here it is, since it will be contentious. cite
S[outh su]burb.
I live in a W burb.
Lived in/near Chicago for 60 years - never previously heard of Riverdale outside of Archie.
I had one, last summer. Watching Netflix on Tv and a tornado alert came up. I wondered if the cable system had some override that it could broadcast to the tv, even if the streaming app was selected.
We pull up Netflix via our cable box, so that may make a difference.
I get my Netflix through my Tivo. I got the characteristic squawk and the robotic voice stating that there was a storm warning in the area, and where to expect it to arrive and when.