Facebook’s new tool

Facebook is testing a new tool designed to make relationship break-ups less painful for users of the social network. The optional feature will allow members to opt out of seeing pictures and posts made by their former spouse or lover on the website.

It works simply by updating their relationship status on the facebook to reflect the break-up, allowing users to remove their name from previous posts that link them to their former partner.

Users will also be able to edit who can see their posts with an ex, untag themselves from posts with that person and their ex-partner will no longer be suggested when a user is writing a new message or tagging photos.

This is designed even for those who are not quite ready to “unfriend” their ex-partner or even block them- the feature will be tested on mobile devices first in the US before facebook decides  whether to offer it to all their 1.5billion users.

Facebook product manager Kelly Winter says: “Facebook is a place for sharing life’s important moments,  including their romantic relationships. Starting today, we are testing tools to help people manage how they interact with their former partners on Facebook after a relationship has ended. We hope these tools will help people end relationships on Facebook with greater ease, comfort and sense of control.”