Breakups used to be easy. Comparatively speaking.
You discussed the matter like adults (or with shouting), cried a bit, drank alone and discovered solace in box sets and Airfix models.
Now, the termination of a relationship sees social media spread its boned fingers like a malicious Disney villain, triggering emotional vulnerability with photos, status updates and the general reminder that someone once significant in your life is now getting on perfectly well without you.
After much apparent pestering, it's come to the attention of Facebook that many of its users would like an easy route to negotiating a breakup, introducing a new set of tools to users as soon as they switch their profile status from "In a relationship" to "Single".
Options presented to the broken hearted user include blocking their posts from your Feed, having their name removed form suggested image tags and options to limit the number of your own photos and statuses they can view - all without blocking them or informing them you're altering your 'Friendship' status.
Though they'll probably guess, right?
Already available on Facebook's mobile platform in the US, you can expect the feature to roll out more widely over the next few months.
Just in time for that messy New Year's Eve show down.
[Via: Facebook]
