{"id":"f-73cd9b4b27-d06eaf58-eed2-5564-be31-018f28ddc0d6","title":"Soon you can share WhatsApp Status only with Close Friends","description":"WhatsApp is working on a new Close Friends feature that will allow users to share Status updates only with selected contacts. Spotted in the latest Android beta, the feature aims to give users more control over Status privacy.","timestamp":1770374046,"category":"technology","headline":"Soon you can share WhatsApp Status only with Close Friends","modifiedHeadline":"WhatsApp Status: Close Friends List","subCategories":["scid_4cc893d5"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"1c3f10c0-5114-4a62-9240-042ffde60004","bundleTitle":"Trending now","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"599","fcSummary":"whatsapp is developing a \"close friends\" list for status updates, allowing users to select specific contacts for sharing. this feature will offer tighter privacy controls, enabling users to choose whether a status is seen by everyone, selected individuals, or only their close friends, with a distinct visual indicator for such shares.","summary":"WhatsApp's new 'Close Friends' feature offers enhanced Status privacy, letting users select who sees their updates.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/astrology/IN/en/news9/f-73cd9b4b27-d06eaf58-eed2-5564-be31-018f28ddc0d6","sourceUrl":"https://www.news9live.com/technology/tech-news/whatsapp-close-friends-status-feature-2927364","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/9LMnvQWuEe90.webp","content":"

New Delhi: Privacy controls on WhatsApp may soon get more personal. A new Android beta update suggests the company is preparing a feature that lets users

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choose a Close Friends list for Status updates, giving people tighter control over who sees what.

The discovery comes from WABetaInfo, which tracks upcoming WhatsApp features through beta releases. The latest Android beta version 2.26.5.13, now available via the Google Play Beta Program, hints that WhatsApp is actively building this option, though it is not yet available for testing.

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WhatsApp working on Close Friends list for Status privacy | Image source: WaBetaInfo

Close friends list for WhatsApp Status updates in the works

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to select specific contacts as Close Friends for Status sharing. Once available, users will be able to decide whether a Status update goes to everyone, selected contacts, or only to their Close Friends.

More accurately, WABetaInfo notes that users will first need to choose who they consider Close Friends. This can be done directly from Status privacy settings or from within the Status interface itself.

How the feature is expected to work

From what has been spotted so far, users will be able to create and manage their Close Friends list at any time. They can add or remove contacts without limits, but changes will only apply to future Status updates.

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When a Status is shared with Close Friends, those selected contacts will see a different coloured ring around the user’s profile photo. This acts as a small visual hint that the Status was shared only with a special group.

WhatsApp is also exploring custom lists for Status updates. These lists can include a name, a group of contacts, and even an emoji, making it easier to organise different audiences without changing settings every single time.

Still under development

WABetaInfo says the Close Friends feature is still under development and not ready for public testing yet. WhatsApp is currently working on the full process of sharing and displaying these special Status updates before rolling it out to some beta testers.

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For everyday users, this could be a quiet but meaningful change. Many people already share different things with family, friends, and work contacts. Having a Close Friends option built into Status could make that separation much easier.

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Soon you can share WhatsApp Status only with Close Friends

SUMMARY