Facebook is reportedly planning to launch a new app that allows users to interact anonymously.

As Digital Spy reports citing the New York Times, the standalone app could be released within a matter of weeks.

Currently unnamed, the new service will mark a step away from Facebook's existing policy of real names in favour of pseudonyms.

Sources close to the project claim the aim is to give users the option to openly discuss topics online that they may not be comfortable discussing with their real names.

It was recently reported that the social network was developing a new standalone app called Moments which will enable users to share content with smaller groups of people.

It is not clear whether the services are related, but both suggest that the social network is considering new ways to address privacy.