NOT JUST a time pass, as some people would allege, Facebook, besides being an effective social networking tool, has become a social service platform as well. In a latest media report, a man got a kidney after telling his emotional story through a special page, ‘Damon Kidney’ on Facebook.

Though known for sharing pictures, state of mind, experiences; Facebook came to the rescue of Seattle dad, Damon Brown, who was on an official transplant list but as events turned out, he normally would have had to wait for couple of years to get the transplant done.

Only after telling his friends and family about his problem, did Brown and his wife Bethany create the special Facebook page, and forwarded the link to all their friends, according to USA Today.

Jacqueline Ryall, related to the family distantly decided to donate the kidney as soon as she read about Brown. “The real reason I'm doing this is he's got kids and he's a good guy. My life is in a good place. I've been given lots and I have a responsibility to give back," USA Today quoted Ryall.

Incidents like this must prompt more people who are still away from the social networking sites, join Facebook and other sites. In the past as well, it has been used extensively to send urgent messages like ‘Blood needed in a particular hospital. Contact this number if your blood group matches’, messages about traffic jams in particular places and the information about the alternative routes’.

Twitter has effectively been used to guide people at times of natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes and building collapses. While many people would just try to enjoy chatting with their friends on these sites, many are using the sites to their best advantages. While social service messages, like the Seattle dad’s provide new life to people and hope to their kids, guiding and informing about the ways during disasters helps people to avoid getting bundled up in mess.