WhatsApp Status To Get Another Instagram-Inspired Feature: Here’s How It Works

WhatsApp is reportedly adding another feature to the Status updates, borrowed from social media app Instagram. The Meta-owned instant messaging app is said to soon roll out Close Friends feature, which will allow users to share status updates with friends added to a list. This is very similar to the same feature found on Instagram. Currently in development for iOS beta version 25.23.10.80, the Close Friends tool on WhatsApp is expected to release in a future update. Also Read: Instagram Launches Limited-Edition Diwali Filters: Here’s How To Use Them

WhatsApp To Get Close Friends List

According to WhatsApp features tracker website WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will give users more control for customising the audience users share their status with. The messaging platform will let users share status updates with chosen close friends. As per WABetaInfo, the option to create a “close friends” list will be available within the Privacy settings screen. Once users create this list, they will be able to choose, while posting, whether to share a new status with all the contacts or exclusively with their selected close friends. Also Read: Meta AI Adds UPI Lite, Hindi Support, and Deepika Padukone’s Voice to Ray-Ban Glasses in India

WhatsApp Close Friends Feature (Source: WABetaInfo)

How It Works

Like Instagram, WhatsApp will also make these exclusive status updates visually distinguishable through a different colour, allowing anyone viewing that it was shared only with close friends. Similar to the feature on Instagram, if someone is added or removed from the “close friends” list, WhatsApp will not notify them of this change. This makes the process entirely private, giving only the user exclusive control over managing and updating the close friends list. Also Read: YouTube’s Next Big AI Upgrade: Lip-Syncing For Auto-Dubbed Videos Coming Soon

As per the report, any changes made to the list will only apply to future status updates. If a status is shared with close friends and then the list is later updated, it will still be visible to the original list of contacts and will not automatically include those added afterwards.

Earlier this year, WhatsApp also borrowed another from Instagram – which allowed users to add music to their status updates.