WhatsApp is developing a feature that lets users share status updates only with a specific group of people. This feature is similar to Instagram’s Close Friends feature, which allows users to share their Instagram Stories with a selected group of followers.
WABetaInfo, the popular website that tracks WhatsApp’s upcoming features, has found this new feature in the latest WhatsApp beta for the iOS version.
WhatsApp Working On a New Status Update Audience Control Feature
According to the publication, WhatsApp is testing new status update tools to offer users an enhanced control over whom they share their WhatsApp status with. The feature is available to some beta testers through the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.10.10.75 update on the TestFlight app.
The screenshot above shows that the latest WhatsApp beta update for iOS offers a new audience selector menu when sharing media through status updates. Earlier, WhatsApp allowed users to exclude contacts from viewing their status updates, and the option showed as All Contacts (XX excluded) while sharing updates.
While the same option is still available, users will now have a new option called Specific Contacts. As the name suggests, the new feature will let users curate a list of specific contacts with whom to share status updates. Once curated, users can choose between all contacts or specific contacts when uploading a WhatsApp status update.
The Specific Contacts feature for WhatsApp status updates will help users protect their privacy by managing who can see their updates. With the granular control over WhatsApp status updates, users can freely share any content without worrying about it being misused. Moreover, the feature will also ensure that the Status reaches the appropriate contacts each time.
As is typically the case with under-development features, the new addition is available to iOS users who update to the latest beta build through the TestFlight app. We can expect it to arrive in a stable update shortly.
