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My friends list has people from work and my real friends. By default, I want my status updates to be visible only to my friends. And sometimes I want may want my updates to be visible to everyone. What are my options in setting something like this up?

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I used to be able to do this with the old profile. Since Facebook upgraded me to the new profile I cannot select friend lists in the privacy settings or even below single posts anymore although the lists all still exist and older posts/settings have not been effected... For now I can only type in single names of people I want to be able to see a certain post/link/photo or make it visible to everyone, which is extremely bothering... I wrote to facebook a few days ago but have yet to get a response... – user8294 Jan 31 '11 at 16:24

1 Answer

up vote 8 down vote accepted

Three easy steps:

  1. Create two lists (Account > Edit Friends > Create a List): Real Friends and Co-workers; sort FB friends accordingly
  2. Account > Privacy Settings > Customize Settings > Posts By Me > Customize > Under "Make this visible to" on the line labeled "These people:" select "Specific People..." and type the names of the lists or individuals
  3. When posting status, click on the padlock icon to change visibility from the default you set above

N.B.: Lists are not the same as Groups. Lists are private and under your control - nobody knows which of your lists they belong to nor can they remove themselves from your lists.

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I created my Real Friends list. But when I go to Account > Privacy Settings > Customize Settings > Posts By Me > Customize, a "Custom Privacy" dialog box appears. In this box, I don't see a way to select my "Real Friends" list. Where am i going wrong? – FB Noob Dec 22 '10 at 15:45
Under "Make this visible to" on the line labeled "These people:" you select "Specific People..." and type the names of the lists or individuals. – Isaac Truett Dec 22 '10 at 15:50
That worked. Thanks. – FB Noob Dec 22 '10 at 15:55
Great! I updated my answer with those additional details. – Isaac Truett Dec 22 '10 at 17:48

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