WhatsApp Tests Close Friends Status Sharing Feature
WhatsApp continues to move beyond basic messaging, and now it plans deeper control over Status visibility. Specifically, the platform is developing a Close Friends feature that mirrors selective sharing on Instagram. As a result, users will soon decide exactly who sees each Status update.
Moreover, the update introduces custom contact lists for Status sharing. Consequently, users can organize contacts into personalized groups instead of adjusting privacy settings every time. At the same time, this approach simplifies audience management and strengthens privacy.
Custom Lists Bring Flexible Audience Control
According to testing spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.5.11, users can create named lists with emojis to separate different audiences. Then, each Status update can target one specific group. Therefore, posts reach only the intended viewers.
In addition, WhatsApp adds a dedicated Close Friends list. Similar to Instagram, this option allows smaller, curated sharing. Furthermore, users can manage Close Friends directly from Status privacy settings or within the Status interface itself.
However, changes to these lists affect only future updates. Meanwhile, previously shared Status posts remain visible to their original audiences.
Visual Indicators and Expanded Privacy Options
Alongside Close Friends, WhatsApp is testing three additional Status privacy modes. After posting, viewers will notice colored rings around profile photos, which indicate how each Status was shared. As a result, users can quickly recognize audience categories at a glance.
Meanwhile, these updates aim to reduce repetitive privacy adjustments. Ultimately, the feature ensures clearer boundaries between personal, professional, and social circles. Although development continues, the Close Friends option is expected to arrive in a future WhatsApp release.
Together, these changes signal WhatsApp’s broader shift toward customizable social sharing, while still preserving user privacy.
