WhatsApp, Meta's messaging platform, is testing a new feature to help users better manage privacy when sharing "Status".
According to WABetaInfo (a website specializing in tracking WhatsApp updates), the company is developing a custom "Status" listing system, in which the "Close Friends" option stands out, similar to the Close Friends feature on Instagram.
The new feature was discovered on the beta version of WhatsApp for Android (version 2. 26. 5. 11). Accordingly, users can create many different contact lists, each list including a specific group of people, personal names and emoticons for easy distinction.
This method helps users quickly select viewers of "Status" without having to adjust privacy settings each time they post content.
The "Best Friends" list is designed for users who want to share personal moments with a small, close group, instead of making it public for the entire contact list.
To add people to this list, users can do it in two ways: select directly from the privacy settings of "Status" or edit the list right in the "Status" posting interface.
A noteworthy point is that adding or removing contacts from the list is only valid for "Statuses" posted later.
This means that if the user has shared a "Status" to the "Best Friends" list, then deleted some people from the list, these people can still view the content that was previously posted.
This regulation aims to ensure the consistency of shared data, while avoiding changes in access rights to old content.
In addition to the "Best Friends" list, WhatsApp is also testing three other security options for "Status", helping users be more flexible in choosing who can view content.
After the "Status" is posted, viewers will see different color circles around the poster's avatar, indicating the shared mode being applied.
In recent years, WhatsApp has continuously expanded its features, gradually going beyond its role as a simple messaging application.
The addition of "Status" management tools shows that Meta is striving to increase personalization, competing directly with Instagram and other social networking platforms in the field of short content sharing.
Currently, the "Close Friends" feature is still in the development and testing process, and there is no official release date for all users.
However, with the trend of increasing privacy and personalizing the experience, it is likely that WhatsApp will soon bring this feature into the official version in the near future, bringing a safer and more flexible way to share "Status".
