How To Change Your Facebook Profile Photo To Support Las Vegas Shooting Victims

On Sunday night, a horrifying mass shooting took place during a country music festival. The news has since spread to the rest of the country and world, so, amidst all other concerns, people might want to change their Facebook profile photo to support Las Vegas shooting victims. Raising awareness of the tragedy and how to help its victims, even just among your friends and family, is one small way of helping. And, although the event struck just hours ago, it's already possible to add a frame as a way of paying tribute to those who have been affected.

It's hard to know exactly what to do or how to behave after something as heartbreaking as this has happened. According to the New York Times, at least 50 people are dead and hundreds more have been injured in the shooting that took place after Jason Aldean kicked off his set at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. It's difficult to fathom exactly what the people who were there and who have been hurt are going through right now, and there are many of us all over the world who want to help, in one way or another.

And if one of the ways you'd like to show solidarity with the victims is by changing your Facebook picture, it's actually a very simple process.

All you need to do is visit your own Facebook profile, and then click on "Update Profile Picture," just as you would if you were going to change the photo. From there, you can click "Add Frame," and there's a search box you can use to find exactly what you want. The shooting happened mere hours ago, so there aren't too many options just yet, but there are people out there creating their own frames already, like this one from consulting firm Rosemint Media. It's still early, though, so there's a good chance more frames will become available as the day continues, and so will memes that could potentially be used as a photo for now, too.

And if you can't find anything you like — and you're handy with graphic design — you can always choose to make your own. It's as easy as creating a picture with your favorite photo editing software (or by using a web-based service like Canva), and then uploading it as your new profile photo. Facebook even gives you the option to make a temporary profile picture, so that's always an option as well. It's more time consuming, of course, but it does allow you to express your support in your own words.

According to NBC News, police first responded to reports of the shooting around 10 p.m. PST. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo has told reporters that the shooter is believed to have killed himself before police entered his room in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, where they found an "excess of 10 rifles" in his possession. Details on the shooting (including updates to the numbers of victims) are still developing.

If you'd like to do more to help the victims and their families beyond changing your Facebook profile picture, there are other ways to show your support to the Las Vegas shooting victims. Even if you're not local to the area, donating blood is always incredibly helpful. If you'd rather contribute financially, offering a donation to the Red Cross can help fund their efforts to provide medical assistance to those who have been hurt.

It's so easy to feel helpless at a time like this, but know that you're not alone. Even something as simple as showing solidarity through social media can be important for those who are trying to cope during such a difficult time.

Here are some other ways you can help the victims in Las Vegas.