Facebook is testing a new privacy control option - similar to that used by Twitter - on its website.
The social networking site plans to introduce a recommended setting which will make users' information such as profile picture album, hometown and current city, bio, work and education information, and all the content a user publishes more public than at present.
However, users will be also provided with granular privacy settings which will help streamline the content - from entire profiles to individual pieces - that the user wants to share.
Facebook's chief privacy officer, Chris Kelly, said the changes were designed to make privacy controls simpler for users.
"We believe that when tools are simple, people are more likely to use them and understand them," said Mr Kelly.
The option that encourages more users to post more status updates and make them available more widely is being seen as an attempt to make Facebook functionalities similar to that of Twitter and spur a direct competition.
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