Facebook extends custom privacy to applications

Facebook has rolled out its privacy updates to all associated applications

Facebook has extended its new customised privacy controls to all third-party applications using its network, as well as all Facebook Connect sites and services.

The new controls, launched last December, allow users to customise privacy for each piece of content shared on Facebook, including status updates, links, photos and videos.

"Today we are responding to your continued feedback by extending that same level of control to content shared through applications," said Facebook software engineer Ray He in a blog post.

"These new controls give you the power to determine who sees the content you post to Facebook through any third-party application, whether on Facebook.com, your desktop, mobile phone or from a Facebook Connect web site or service."

A Facebook spokeswoman explained that all Facebook applications and integrations will have access to the new controls, which will "automatically appear on Feed forms and Publisher integrations even if the developer does nothing".

The company reassured users that the customised controls will not affect general privacy settings, where a default level of control can be set for all posts.

"You may also start to see additional prompts in applications asking if you'd like to set privacy for certain pieces of content that differ from your default setting," said He.

"Whether you choose to keep your default setting on everything you share, or change the audience for different pieces of content, the choice is yours."