BY staff Reporter
WhatsApp is preparing to roll out a new feature that mirrors Instagram’s popular “Close Friends” option, giving users greater control over who can view their Status updates.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.5.11. It allows users to create custom contact lists — each with a unique name and emoji — to better organise who sees specific Status posts. Instead of adjusting privacy settings every time, users can simply choose a pre-made list.
A dedicated “Close Friends” list will enable users to share updates with a smaller, selected group, similar to how it works on Instagram. These lists can be managed through Status privacy settings or directly from the Status interface. Any changes made to the list will only affect future posts; previously shared updates will remain visible to the original audience.
In addition, WhatsApp is testing three other privacy options for Status sharing. Selected viewers may also notice different coloured rings around a user’s profile picture, indicating how the Status was shared.
The feature is still under development and is expected to be introduced in a future WhatsApp update.
