Meta is expanding WhatsApp Status with a new “Close Friends” feature, a popular option already available on Instagram, allowing users to share updates with a more intimate circle.
The new feature, discovered in the latest TestFlight release by WABetaInfo, enables users to create a “Close Friends” list within their privacy settings. This provides a streamlined alternative to existing options like “My Contacts,” “My Contacts Except…,” and “Only Share With…,” which some users currently use as a makeshift Close Friends list.
When posting a Status update, users can choose to share it with their entire contact list or restrict it to their “Close Friends” group, offering increased control over audience selection. The “Close Friends” list remains private, meaning users won’t be notified if they’re added to or removed from someone’s list, similar to Instagram’s functionality.
Updates shared with the “Close Friends” list will be visually distinguished by a different-colored ring, indicating that the update is being shared with a select group rather than a broader audience. This design aligns with Instagram’s Close Friends feature.
The “Close Friends” feature aims to enhance the WhatsApp Status experience, currently used by 1.5 billion people daily worldwide, by providing users with more granular control over who views their updates. This caters to those who prefer sharing specific content with a smaller, more intimate circle.
