diff --git a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
index eebb0789b..5778aacd7 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
    that still allows non-realm based Basic authentication.
  - fixed #10228: Calendar: Weekly re-occurence function not working properly 
    ( Martin Kamerbeek / Oqapi )
+ - fixed #9851: New Users have blank profile field privacy settings
 
 7.7.8
  - fixed: Basic Auth doesn't work if password contains colon (Arjan Widlak,
diff --git a/docs/upgrades/upgrade_7.7.8-7.7.9.pl b/docs/upgrades/upgrade_7.7.8-7.7.9.pl
index 2fd26f437..e3ce67df6 100644
--- a/docs/upgrades/upgrade_7.7.8-7.7.9.pl
+++ b/docs/upgrades/upgrade_7.7.8-7.7.9.pl
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ my $session = start(); # this line required
 # upgrade functions go here
 repackTemplates( $session );
 deleteUnattachedAddressBooks( $session );
+addDefaultPrivacySettings( $session );
 
 finish($session); # this line required
 
@@ -47,6 +48,16 @@ finish($session); # this line required
 #    print "DONE!\n" unless $quiet;
 #}
 
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+sub addDefaultPrivacySettings {
+    my $session = shift;
+    print "\tAdding default privacy setting to profile fields..." unless $quiet;
+    $session->db->write("alter table userProfileField add defaultPrivacySetting char(128);");
+    $session->db->write("update userProfileField set defaultPrivacySetting = 'all' where profileCategoryId IN(2,3,6);");
+    $session->db->write("update userProfileField set defaultPrivacySetting = 'none' where !(profileCategoryId IN(2,3,6));");
+    print "Done.\n" unless $quiet;
+}
+
 #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Repack all templates since the packed columns may have been wiped out due to the bug.
 sub repackTemplates {
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Operation/ProfileSettings.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Operation/ProfileSettings.pm
index 5b910b429..48c83f0df 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Operation/ProfileSettings.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Operation/ProfileSettings.pm
@@ -301,7 +301,14 @@ sub www_editProfileField {
             -value=>$data->{forceImageOnly},
             -defaultValue=>1,
         );
-    }	
+    }
+    $f->radioList(
+        -name       => 'defaultPrivacySetting',
+        -label      => $i18n->get('default privacy setting label'),
+        -hoverHelp  => $i18n->get('default privacy setting description'),
+        -options    => WebGUI::ProfileField->getPrivacyOptions($session),
+        -value      => $data->{defaultPrivacySetting}
+    );	
     my $fieldType = WebGUI::Form::FieldType->new($session,
         -name=>"fieldType",
         -label=>$i18n->get(486),
@@ -377,6 +384,7 @@ sub www_editProfileFieldSave {
 		fieldType=>$session->form->fieldType("fieldType"),
 		forceImageOnly=>$session->form->yesNo("forceImageOnly"),
         extras=>$session->form->text('extras'),
+        defaultPrivacySetting=>$session->form->radioList('defaultPrivacySetting'),
 		);
 	my $categoryId = $session->form->selectBox("profileCategoryId");
 	if ($session->form->process("new")) {
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/User.pm b/lib/WebGUI/User.pm
index fe37376eb..7ea7a453a 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/User.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/User.pm
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use WebGUI::Workflow::Instance;
 use WebGUI::Shop::AddressBook;
 use JSON;
 use WebGUI::Exception;
+use WebGUI::ProfileField;
 
 =head1 NAME
 
@@ -83,6 +84,19 @@ sub _create {
     my $userId = shift || $session->id->generate();
     $session->db->write("insert into users (userId,dateCreated) values (?,?)",[$userId, time()]);
     $session->db->write("INSERT INTO userProfileData (userId) VALUES (?)",[$userId]);
+
+    # Set wg_privacySettings
+    my @fields     = @{WebGUI::ProfileField->getFields($session)};
+    my $privacy  = {};
+    foreach my $field (@fields) {
+        #$session->errorHandler->warn('getting privacy setting for field: '.$fieldName);
+        my $privacySetting = $field->get('defaultPrivacySetting');
+        next unless (WebGUI::Utility::isIn($privacySetting,qw(all none friends)));
+        $privacy->{$field->get('fieldName')} = $privacySetting;
+    }
+    my $json = JSON->new->encode($privacy);
+    $session->db->write("update userProfileData set wg_privacySettings=? where userId=?",[$json,$userId]);
+
     WebGUI::Group->new($session,2)->addUsers([$userId]);
     WebGUI::Group->new($session,7)->addUsers([$userId]);
     return $userId;
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/WebGUIProfile.pm b/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/WebGUIProfile.pm
index afed1aee5..6385bfad9 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/WebGUIProfile.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/WebGUIProfile.pm
@@ -418,6 +418,19 @@ If you wish to set the Default Value for any other field.  Create the field with
         message => q|Extra HTML to include with this profile field.|,
         lastUpdated => 1224620527,
     },
+
+    'default privacy setting label' => {
+        message => q|Default Privacy Setting|,
+        lastUpdated => 0,
+        context => q|Label for a profile field property on the Edit User Profile Field screen.|,
+    },
+
+    'default privacy setting description' => {
+        message => q|Select the default privacy setting for this profile field. This will be used when a new user is created.|,
+        lastUpdated => 0,
+        context => q|Description for a profile field property, used as hoverhelp on the Edit User Profile Field screen.|,
+    },
+
 };
 
 1;