Breaking up with someone has rarely been easy, especially if you're closely connected to the other person on social media.
But now Facebook has created a new set of tools aiming to improve the experience of ending a relationship.
The social media giant announced Thursday it was testing new tools that will allow users to manage how they are connected to their ex-partner on the site, without having to unfriend or block them.
"We are testing tools to help people manage how they interact with their former partners on Facebook after a relationship has ended," said Facebook product manager Kelly Winters in a blog post.
"When people change their relationship status to indicate they are no longer in a relationship, they will be prompted to try these tools."
These tools include the ability to limit how often users see the other person's posts or pictures in their newsfeed, and will disable prompts to message them or identify (known as tagging) them in pictures.
Users can also place limits on what the other person will see about them, effectively hiding their social media presence.
A third tool will allow users to go back through any older posts where both parties have been identified and edit them, either making them private or untagging themselves.
Currently, only Facebook users in the U.S. and on mobile devices will have access to these optional tools. Facebook intends to tweak the new features and roll them out to other locations depending on user feedback.
"This work is part of our ongoing effort to develop resources for people who may be going through difficult moments in their lives," said Winters.
"We hope these tools will help people end relationships on Facebook with greater ease, comfort and sense of control."
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