Facebook temporarily shut down its online chat feature after a software glitch let people's friends in the online community see each others' private chat messages.
In a message posted on its website Facebook said the chat feature was unavailable as it worked to fix a bug.
To look at the usually walled of information Facebook users had to manipulate a "preview my profile" feature in a particular way, according to Facebook.
It said it fixed that issue and took down the chat feature as soon as it became aware of the problem.