WhatsApp’s New Close Friends Feature Enhances Privacy

WhatsApp is set to introduce a new feature known as Close Friends, which aims to make status sharing more private and personal. This feature draws inspiration from Instagram’s popular Close Friends option.

Creating a Close Friends List

Discovered in the latest iOS beta (version 25.23.10.80 via TestFlight), this feature enables users to form a dedicated list of close friends directly within the privacy settings. Once established, status updates can then be shared solely with that exclusive group instead of all contacts. Reports suggest that WhatsApp is experimenting with various colours to make these posts visually distinct from standard updates.

Temporary and Secure Updates

Similar to regular status updates, posts shared with close friends will disappear after 24 hours and will remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning that neither Meta nor WhatsApp can access the content. Privacy is a key aspect of this feature, as contacts will not receive notifications when they are added or removed from the list, thus avoiding any potential awkward conversations. Only those included in the list at the time of posting will have access to the update, meaning that newly added friends will not see past statuses unless they are re-uploaded.

An Intimate Sharing Space

This addition creates a more intimate sharing environment on WhatsApp, closely mirroring Instagram’s approach, yet tailored to fit the messaging app’s ecosystem. Furthermore, it builds on the platform’s recent initiatives to evolve beyond basic messaging functionalities. Recent updates include an AI writing tool for composing and rephrasing messages and trials of disappearing messages that vanish within an hour.

Future Rollout of the Feature

While WhatsApp has not officially confirmed the Close Friends feature, its presence in beta testing hints at a potential rollout to users within the upcoming weeks.