Facebook launches new privacy settings... again!

Is it just me or does it seem that Facebook like to change their privacy controls every so often. The cynical part of me thinks it makes good publicity, but the other part likes to think they really have listened to their users and given them what they want.

This time, the main change is centred around tagging. From now on, if you tag someone in a post or a photo, they will have to approve the said tag. Apparently users have asked for more control over this and I can see their point. While it's fine to be tagged in a photo looking OK (like the one below), it's another thing to be tagged in a photo with your knickers on show while you puke in a bush - especially if your boss is one of your friends on Facebook!

Insiders say this move, along with more other more transparent privacy controls of limiting who can see individual posts and images, was probably brought on by the fast-growing service by Google +.

So has Facebook lost it's edge? Is it now going to be playing catch-up with Google +? We'll see how this social media showdown plays out - who knows maybe the next big Oscar movie will be have Google in the title?