Tech Desk 
Sep 15, 2025
Following in the footsteps of Instagram, renowned instant messaging platform WhatsApp is gearing up to release an Instagram-style Close Friends feature, letting users choose who can see their content.
The remarkable feature will purportedly be incorporated in WhatsApp's new update, with which the tech giant aims to improve and advance status privacy controls.
New WhatsApp features in latest update
Spotted in the latest Android beta version 2.25.25.11, this change would come alongside a redesigned interface that simplifies how users share their status updates.
This updated privacy interface is integrated within WhatsApp's drawing editor screen. Similar to filters from the Chats tab, users will now find audience chips at the bottom.
These chips enable quick switching between options such as “My Contacts” and “Only Share With” without having to exit the editor or access a separate privacy menu.
The "Only Share With" option restricts visibility to a chosen list of contacts, while the "My Contacts" option will let all contacts see the shared status updates. If no exclusions are set, the status will be visible to the whole contact list.
Besides, users might also receive real-time feedback via toast notifications confirming the number of included or excluded contacts every time a privacy option is selected.
This approach is likely to enhance greater control on the oversharing of status updates' content.
