Social network Facebook is allowing its 900 million users to share their organ donor status in an effort to spread awareness.

The update will appear on a user's Timeline and in the About section of their profile. Users can also control who can view their organ donor status.

"Medical experts believe that broader awareness about organ donation could go a long way toward solving this crisis," reads a statement from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. "And we believe that by simply telling people that you're an organ donor, the power of sharing and connection can play an important role."

Facebook says the initiative was inspired by recent disasters such as last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the social network's role in keeping people connected.

"We never could have anticipated that what started as a small network would evolve into such a powerful tool for communication and problem solving," reads their statement. "As this happens, we hope to build tools that help people transform the way we all solve worldwide social problems."

More than 114,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a transplant, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. They host a website with more details on organ donation.

April is Donate Life Month, a drive aimed at urging more people to become organ, eye and tissue donors.

Update at 8:08 a.m. ET: During an interview with Good Morning America, Zuckerberg delved deeper into the inspirations behind the organ donation project, including Facebook's role during catastrophic events.

"Recently, when the tornadoes came through in Missouri, a lot of people were using Facebook to organize and return items that were lost," Zuckerberg tells GMA. "In Japan, people were using Facebook to help locate their friends and families. So, we figured, could we do anything to help people solve other types of issues, like all the people who need organ donations?"

Zuckerberg also cites his girlfriend, Priscilla Chan, who is studying to become a pediatrician. "Our dinner conversations are often about Facebook and kids, and the kids that's she's meeting," he says. "She'll see them getting sicker, then, all of a sudden, an organ becomes available, and she comes home and her face is all lit up because someone's life is going to be better because of this."

The Facebook CEO also shared a bit about his relationship with Apple c0-founder Steve Jobs, who died last year after a long bout with cancer. In 2009, Jobs received a liver transplant at a Memphis hospital.

When asked whether he ever talked with Jobs about organ donation, Zuckerberg says it was "not about doing this specifically, but he was a friend. And as we were thinking through this, definitely, I think it's something we all had in mind."

As for Facebook users who aren't eager to share their organ donation status: "They obviously don't need to participate, but even if this doesn't touch everyone, I hope that this can make a real impact."