WhatsApp Testing Instagram-Style Close Friends and Custom Status Lists Feature

WhatsApp Adds Instagram-Like Close Friends Feature

WhatsApp has been steadily adding new features that make the app more than just an instant messaging platform. In its latest development, the Meta-owned service is reportedly testing an Instagram-like feature that will let users create custom lists for Status updates, including a “Close Friends” option. This change is expected to give users more control and privacy when sharing status updates with selected contacts instead of all connections.

What the New Feature Does

According to reports from feature tracker WABetaInfo, the update spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android versions 2.26.5.11 and 2.26.5.13 lets users organise contacts into curated lists for Status sharing. Each list can have a name and emoji to make it easy to recognise and separate different groups, such as best friends, family, or close colleagues. This means you no longer need to adjust privacy settings every time you share something — you can simply select a custom group to share your status with.

How It Improves Privacy and Convenience

This new approach is designed to help users who want to control who sees their status updates without the hassle of constantly changing settings. For example, you could post something you only want your close friends to see and quickly choose the Close Friends list. Reports say that people in your Close Friends list might even see a different coloured ring around your profile picture when you share a status specifically with them, making personalized updates easier to spot.

Inspiration from Instagram

The idea clearly takes inspiration from Instagram’s “Close Friends” feature, which lets users share Stories with a select group rather than all followers. WhatsApp’s move shows how social features from different Meta apps are influencing each other, allowing Status sharing to feel more personal and controlled, especially for people who post frequently.

How Users Will Set Up Lists

Reports indicate that users will be able to set up their custom lists in two main ways. They may create and edit lists directly from the Status privacy settings menu, where they can pick the contacts they want to include. Alternatively, lists might also be managed right from the Status interface when posting an update. The flexibility to update these lists anytime will make it easier for users to keep them relevant.

Where the Feature Currently Stands

As of now, the custom lists and Close Friends feature are still under development and appear only in the WhatsApp beta versions on Android. There is no official rollout date yet, but beta users are expected to be the first to receive these updates before they become available to everyone. Meta has not released the feature officially yet, but ongoing testing suggests it could arrive in a future update if everything goes well.

What It Means for WhatsApp Users

If introduced widely, this feature could change how people use WhatsApp Status. Instead of broadcasting a message to all contacts, users will have more control over who sees personal content, making status updates feel more private and less like a public announcement. This is especially helpful for users who have large contact lists and want to avoid oversharing with everyone.

A Step Toward Better Social Sharing

This development is part of WhatsApp’s ongoing effort to offer more social and privacy-focused features that keep pace with user expectations in a world of digital communication. By blending messaging with social sharing tools inspired by apps like Instagram, WhatsApp continues to evolve beyond a messaging service to a more interactive and user-centric platform.

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