WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to share posts with a more personalised audience, similar to Instagram’s close friends. The new feature was discovered in the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.23.10.80 via TestFlight, indicating that the platform is working on a close friends feature.
According to the details confirmed by the WaBetaInfo report, users will soon be able to create a dedicated close friends list right from the privacy settings screen. Soon after creating the list, they can choose when to post a status update, either with the default audience or only with close friends. To differentiate these posts, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform intends to use a different colour for statuses shared with close friends, making them easily identifiable.
Furthermore, managing close friends will remain confidential. It should be noted that contacts will be notified when they are added or removed, ensuring privacy and giving users complete control over the list. However, any changes to the list will only affect future updates.
Close friends’ updates, like all WhatsApp statuses, will disappear after 24 hours and be encrypted end-to-end. This means that neither WhatsApp nor Meta can access the content, reinforcing the platform’s privacy guarantees.
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This follows the previous update, which added the new “My Status” option to the iOS share sheet, allowing users to post photos and videos directly as status updates from other apps. The upcoming close friends feature expands on this by providing more control and an intimate sharing experience.
It is worth noting that WhatsApp has yet to acknowledge the details. The feature may become available in the coming weeks as part of an upcoming update.