Facebook's privacy settings are getting a facelift.
The social network announced plans to introduce a slew of changes to its sharing, tagging and privacy policies, a move that will have far-reaching effects on how users share information and with whom.
The features, which include the ability to screen tagged photos before they appear in profiles and the option to tag non-friends in pictures, mark Facebook's efforts to give members more control over personal details, an important move for a company that has repeatedly faced controversy over its privacy policies.
Yet the latest update also appears to be a defensive move against Google+, a social networking service Google launched in July that has attempted to woo users away from Facebook by offering several unique privacy and sharing features. Facebook's latest revamp underscores the increasing pressure the social networking site is facing from competitors and appears an attempt to assure users their personal data is safe with Facebook.
"Their announcement shows people care about privacy and Facebook is trying to catch up to privacy as a competitive advantage," said Michael Fertik, CEO of Reputation.com, a company that helps individuals manage their profile online. "I think Google+ did put them on their back foot."
Facebook detailed the numerous new features in a 1,200 word blog posted Tuesday afternoon.
We've combed through their explanation to put together this detailed guide to Facebook's new privacy settings--what they mean for you, how to use them, and more:
