Facebook ( Meta-owned messaging platform) continues to expand status sharing capabilities with the latest Beta update (iOS 25.23.10.80) released via TestFlight.
The highlight is the "close friends" option, which allows users to share status with a close contact group, similar to how to work on Instagram.
Accordingly, users can create a list of "close friends" in the privacy settings and select the audience each time they post a new status.
These private share updates will be displayed in different colors, making it easy for viewers to recognize them. List management is also designed to be more reserved when you add or remove someone from the list, they will not receive notification.
However, WhatsApp noted that the posted status was only displayed to those on the list at the time of sharing.
If the user changes the list later, the previous update will not automatically appear with the new contact.
To apply the change, users must manually delete and re-post the status. Although it takes more operation, this approach is considered to ensure transparency, avoiding confusion about display rights.
Along with that, the recent iOS update 25.22.83 also brought another improvement such as the My status shortcut right on the iOS sharing page.
Thanks to that, users can post photos or videos directly to the WhatsApp status from any application, instead of having to open WhatsApp and select a contact in advance.
This feature also supports quick editing with text, drawings or emojis before posting, making the sharing process more convenient.
With consecutive updates, WhatsApp shows its ambition to upgrade the personalized sharing experience, competing directly with social platforms that are strong in "story" features such as Instagram or Snapchat.
Experts say that when officially deployed globally, the Best Friend feature can help Facebook retain young users, who prefer privacy and better control when sharing statuses.
