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WhatsApp Status to Introduce Close Friends Feature
ByAinvest
Monday, Sep 1, 2025 6:45 pm ET1min read
WhatsApp Status is getting a Close Friends feature, allowing users to share updates with a select group of friends rather than their entire contact list. The feature will be available in a future update and will be visually distinguished with a different-colored ring around the updates. Users will be able to create a private Close Friends list from within the privacy settings screen.
Title: WhatsApp Adds Close Friends Feature to Status UpdatesWhatsApp, a popular instant messaging app owned by Meta, is set to introduce a significant update to its Status feature. The new feature, dubbed "Close Friends," will allow users to share updates with a select group of friends rather than their entire contact list. This update is expected to enhance user privacy and control over their status updates, a feature that has been gaining traction among users.
Currently, WhatsApp Status updates work similarly to Instagram Stories, where users can post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. The new Close Friends feature will enable users to create a private list of close friends from within the existing privacy settings screen. When posting a new Status update, users will have the option to share it with their entire contact list or restrict it to their close friends.
The feature will be visually distinguished with a different-colored ring around the updates, making it clear to these contacts that they are seeing an update shared only with select friends rather than a broader audience. This visual cue will help users easily identify the Close Friends updates, similar to how Instagram Stories with a Green ring are distinguished.
The list of close friends will be private, meaning people won't be notified if they are added or removed. This discreet management of the Close Friends list ensures that users maintain control over their privacy settings without alerting others to changes in their friend list.
The new feature is currently in the development phase and will be rolled out to iOS beta users through the TestFlight beta program. This means that users who opt into the beta program will have the opportunity to test and provide feedback on the new feature before it becomes available to the general public.
WhatsApp's move to introduce the Close Friends feature aligns with its ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience and provide more granular control over privacy settings. This update is particularly relevant given the increasing importance of privacy in digital communications.
References:
[1] https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/01/whatsapp-status-is-getting-a-close-friends-feature/
[2] https://www.latestly.com/technology/whatsapp-new-feature-update-meta-owned-platform-experimenting-with-status-updates-with-close-friends-feature-will-launch-for-ios-beta-users-after-development-7087657.html
[3] https://www.gadgets360.com/apps/news/whatsapp-status-close-friends-option-update-beta-report-9195034
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