(Image source from: Livemint.com)
WhatsApp is said to be developing a fresh feature that may enable users to share Status updates exclusively with their “close friends” on iOS devices. Users will get a new option to select which contacts they want to add to their close friends list. At the moment, WhatsApp allows users to share Status updates with all of their contacts by default, or they can choose from two other audience settings. The function for selecting close friends was noticed by a feature tracking source, and it resembles the Close Friends stories feature found on Instagram. WABetaInfo, a feature tracker, mentioned in a post that the messaging app is planning to introduce an extra option for Status updates on iOS. This feature will enable users to share Status updates that are only visible to their list of “Close Friends.” According to the tracker, this feature was seen in progress on the WhatsApp beta version 25.23.10.80 for iOS.
A screenshot showing the audience menu for Status updates, which includes the new Close Friends option, was provided by the feature tracker. Users will be able to select particular contacts to be their close friends, based on WABetaInfo's information. Currently, WhatsApp permits users to share their Status updates with all their contacts by default. They also have the choice to pick certain contacts they want to prevent from seeing their Status (essentially excluding them), or choose contacts they would like to share it exclusively with. However, with the new feature, WhatsApp users will likely be able to pick just a few “close friends” to share their Status with. This could be useful for those who want to share specific stories with a selected group of contacts, while others in their contact list can still view different Status updates. This feature is quite similar to how Instagram allows users to share stories with followers. The social media platform already provides an option for users to create a 'Close Friends' list for sharing certain stories.
Just like the stories on Instagram, the new Close Friends Status updates on WhatsApp will also feature an indicator that makes them easy to recognize. On Instagram, these stories are marked with a green ring around them. Additionally, managing the Close Friends list is designed to keep things private, as noted by WABetaInfo. If a user adds or removes someone from their list, the app will not inform anyone else. Users will only see the Status updates that are posted after the changes have been made, and not the ones that were already posted, according to the feature tracker. WhatsApp Status updates are temporary and will vanish after 24 hours, which also applies to updates shared with close friends. The new feature was discovered in development just days after the messaging app began rolling out an AI tool that helps users rewrite text in different tones and with clarity. WhatsApp's AI assistant for iOS users provides suggestions for improvement, built on Private Processing technology.
