Social networking sites like Facebook add more layers of complexity to the relationship process, especially when a relationship reaches a breaking point. Now, the social network is testing a feature to make things easier.
Facebook is testing a series of mobile features that will let you limit the amount of content you see from your exes and vice versa, it announced Thursday. The feature will let you see less information from your exes, without having to block or unfriend them.
With the new tools, when you change your relationship status, you'll be able to limit the number of updates, photos, and videos you see from that person. That person's name will no longer appear in suggested people to message or tag. Additionally, Facebook will now give you the option to automatically remove tags or limit the visibility of messages and photos you have with an ex. You can either go to a post and decide whether you want to untag yourself or just get rid of all the tags at once.
Additionally, this feature will allow you to limit the updates your ex sees about you. You can choose to hide your posts from that person, so they will only be able to see posts you have made public, with mutual friends, or those you have tagged them in.
Kelly Winters, a product manager at Facebook, said in a post that users often ask what options they have when a relationship ends, other than unfriending or blocking an ex. The tool is designed to add more flexibility to that very process.
Facebook is currently testing this feature in the US on its mobile app. It plans to make it more widely available once it receives feedback from users who have tried it.
Ending a relationship in the age of Facebook is always a complicated proposition. While you may never physically see your ex, with Facebook they will still be in your life, whether you want them to or not. While unfriending and blocking have long provided a simple way to remove their digital presence completely, it's a "crude" move that many consider to be in poor taste, especially if a breakup was relatively amicable.
Facebook has recently focused on being more sensitive about the content it shows its users, and for many, this feature will be a welcome addition.
