Facebook introduces Smart Lists to compete with Google+ Circles

You may have noticed when logging into Facebook recently that it's added functionality to the way that users can update their Status.  The Status box now includes options for location, friends names and additional control over which friends get to see different status updates.  Now some of this functionality was already available on Facebook - but this revision to the Status box makes it easier to control these features.

Additionally, Mashable this week also revealed some screen shots of Facebook's new Smart Lists.  This will automatically group friends into one of three categories: 'work colleagues', 'old classmates' and those 'that live within 50 miles' of you.  This is intended to mirror the Google+ Circles so that the user can more easily choose how to share information with different groups of contacts.

Users will still be able to create custom lists using an updated Friends List tool (see below).

Smart Lists are is currently limited to select users prior to its roll-out.