Facebook is testing new privacy controls that will allow the online hangout's roughly 200 million users to decide who should see each of their personal updates.

In a Wednesday announcement, Facebook said the option will enable users to customise their postings for specific groups of friends.

For instance, a person may want to share certain things - like how they're feeling about the weather - with everyone while limiting the audience able to read other developments - like a wild night of partying.

Some Facebook users have gotten into trouble with employers and parents who have read updates containing inflammatory remarks or tales of indiscretions.

The additional privacy controls initially will only be available to some Facebook users.

MESSENGER

FACEBOOK

Blog on Spaces

Add to delicious

Add to Digg

Share on MySpace

Share, bookmark, and save your favourite ninemsn articles and features. Learn more.

Most popular

Conjoined twins' mum shocked after birthThe Bangladeshi mother of newly separated twins Krishna and Trishna says she became hysterical upon realising her girls were conjoined.

Swedish woman killed by elkA Swedish man has been cleared of the murder of his wife after forensic investigation revealed the woman was most likely killed by an elk.

Man had to choose: save wife or sonA man had to make the terrible choice of rescuing his wife or teenage son when their car plunged into a river in New Zealand at the weekend.

Tiger Woods says crash was his faultTiger Woods says the car crash that sent him to hospital was his fault and has become embarrassing to him and his family.

Four police officers shot dead in USFour police officers have been shot dead as they sat working on their laptops at a Washington state coffeehouse in what authorities say was a targeted ambush.

Spears parties in Melbourne without boyfriendBritney Spears has wound up her Australian tour by partying at a nightclub without her boyfriend Jason Trawick.

Man dug up dead wife for a hugA heartbroken Vietnamese widower who wanted a hug from his dead wife dug up her corpse and slept beside it in his bed for five years, reports say.

Perth dad 'sells daughter online' as punishmentA Perth father has put his 13-year-old daughter up for sale on the internet as punishment for wearing make-up to school, sparking calls to police from disgusted online shoppers.

Dead man's body to stay inside caveA US pot-holer has died after being stuck upside-down in a cave in Utah for more than 24 hours.

Hockey expected to go for top jobJoe Hockey could this week become the Liberal Party's third leader in two years amid expectations he will contest a possible ballot on Tuesday.