Facebook: how will 'break-up' tool for jilted lovers work?

Facebook has launched a new set of tools to help smooth the online angst of a relationship break-up. Couples who part ways will now be able to see less of their former partner on the social network without severing all ties.

Previously, Facebook users who split up would have to block their former partner altogether, or unfriend them, to see less of them online, explains TechCrunch. But some people don't want to take action as drastic as that - but would still like to see less of the ex popping up in their news feed, particularly if accompanied by a new partner in photos or comments.

In a statement, the social networking giant says it hopes to give users the power to "end relationships on Facebook with greater ease, comfort and sense of control".

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Not all of the options to hide posts or photographs from an ex are new - though some are - but Facebook has brought them together in a new tool. The tool pops up if users change the relationship 'status' on their profiles - and guides them through the options.

TechCrunch says the tools will help users "digitally distance themselves from their former loved ones". It says: "The idea is to give users some space, in the virtual sense, following their break-up."

Some of the options now rounded up together are:

• Choose not to have an ex's posts in your news feed, without unfriending or blocking them
• Write a new message, or tag a photo, without having the ex's name offered as an auto-complete suggestion
• Limit which of your photos, videos or status updates a former partner can see
• Edit which of your previous posts the ex, or anybody else, can see. This can be done on a case-by-case basis

Importantly, when users choose not to see posts from an ex in this manner, the ex will not be aware that they have done so.

Facebook says the new tools were rolled out yesterday for the mobile version of the site, in the US only. They will be expanded "further" later, with changes made based on feedback from users, says the site.