MySpace offers new privacy settings

Hot on the heels of Facebook's privacy row, comes MySpace Co-President Mike Jones offering new privacy settings to all users.

"The last few weeks have been fraught with discussion around user privacy on social networks," begins an open letter to the MySpace community. "We want to take this opportunity to discuss our view of user privacy on MySpace and some of the core features that made MySpace unique from its inception."

Jones revealed that MySpace is planning the launch of a simplified privacy setting for its user profiles.

"While we've had these plans in the works for some time, given the recent outcry over privacy concerns in the media, we felt it was important to unveil those plans to our users now," he said. "We believe users want a simpler way to control their privacy. That's why, in the coming weeks, MySpace will continue to simplify its privacy settings to create a simpler, more intuitive approach that gives users greater control over their information."

Setting options will include public, friends only, or public to anyone 18 or over, Jones explained, adding that in making this change, MySpace will default the setting to "friends only" for any user who previously had any granular page setting to "friends only." 

Users can change this option with one click if they choose, he promised.