• WhatsApp is working on a feature to create custom lists for sharing status updates with close friends
• The feature allows users to select a preset audience instead of changing privacy settings each time

WhatsApp is developing a new feature that enables users to create custom lists for sharing status updates with specific contacts, led by a “Close Friends” list, in an effort to make privacy control easier without repeatedly adjusting settings.

In the latest beta versions, the feature is expected to let users build multiple audience lists for their status posts, allowing them to choose who can view updates more easily, similar to Instagram’s “Close Friends” option.

WhatsApp currently offers three main privacy settings for status updates: “My contacts,” “My contacts except,” and “Only share with,” but the company sees switching between them as inconvenient in some cases.

The new feature aims to address this by introducing reusable saved lists, such as family or colleagues, allowing users to select an audience with a single tap instead of changing settings every time.

It will also include a default “Close Friends” list, with status updates shared to it highlighted in a different color to distinguish private content from general posts.

The feature is still under development for both Android and iOS, and is expected to roll out gradually to beta users before a wider release later on.