WhatsApp is testing Close Friends and custom lists for Status updates on Android and iPhone
Follow UsWhatsApp beta users on Android and iPhone can reportedly create Close Friends lists for Status sharing.
The platform is also testing multiple custom audience groups with personalised names and emojis.
A new purple ring may indicate Status updates shared with restricted audiences instead of all contacts.
WhatsApp is now reportedly rolling out its new privacy focused feature that can give more control over who sees their Status update. The feature is currently spotted in beta version of WhatsApp for Android and iOS, allowing users to create Close Friends and custom audience lists for selective sharing.
SurveyAs per details spotted in recent beta updates, users may soon be able to create a dedicated Close Friends list directly from WhatsApp’s Status privacy settings. Similar to Instagram Stories, this allows users to share specific updates with selected contacts rather than their entire contact list. The feature is currently available to a limited number of Android and iOS beta testers. Users can reportedly add or remove people from the list at any time, with changes automatically reflected in future Status posts.
WhatsApp is said to be testing support for more custom audience groups than Close Friends. This will allow users to create separate lists for family members, colleagues, classmates and other categories based on the type of content they wish to share. When posting a Status update, beta users reportedly have the option of sharing with all contacts, Close Friends, or a custom audience. WhatsApp is also testing custom names and emojis for these lists to make them easier to recognise and manage.
Another reported addition is a purple ring around status updates shared with specific audiences. This visual indicator may help users recognise that the update was sent to a specific group rather than all contacts. Users outside the selected audience are reportedly unable to see or be aware of the Status update. WhatsApp also does not notify contacts when they are added or removed from the Close Friends list.
So far, the feature is only available to select beta testers via Google Play Beta on Android and TestFlight on iOS. It may be released to the public in the coming weeks. However, exact details are being kept under wraps.
