---
title: "WhatsApp Beta Introduces Instagram-Style ‘Close Friends’ for Status Updates"  
description: "WhatsApp Beta now lets users share status updates with selected ‘Close Friends’ for more privacy."  
author: "Meet Patel"  
published: 2025-09-03  
updated: 2025-09-03  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/4725/whatsapp-beta-introduces-instagram-style-close-friends-for-status-updates  
category: "whatsapp"  
tags: ["whatsapp"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# WhatsApp Beta Introduces Instagram-Style ‘Close Friends’ for Status Updates

[WhatsApp Beta](https://www.mindstick.com/news/4660/whatsapp-beta-rolls-out-remind-me-feature-for-custom-message-alerts) has introduced a new feature to give users an option to post status updates to select people just like the Close friends in [Instagram](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/305859/instagram-reels-vs-stories-best-for-brands). This capability allows users to have additional control over sharing their personal updates with others, increasing privacy and providing a powerful sharing experience.

## Highlights:

- WhatsApp Beta introduces a ‘Close Friends’ list for status updates.
- Users can select specific contacts to view their status.
- The feature functions like Instagram’s ‘Close Friends’.
- It provides better [privacy](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/305490/why-is-privacy-important-in-cybersecurity) control over personal posts.
- The feature is currently available only in the beta version.

WhatsApp Close Friend allows users a list of those they regard as close friends and are visible of certain [status updates](https://www.mindstick.com/news/4281/whatsapp-to-enable-automatic-sharing-of-status-updates-on-facebook-and-instagram). Any user will be able to add or delete contacts at any time, and build complete control over personal posts. This feature will provide [privacy and security](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/112666/how-do-americans-manage-their-digital-privacy-and-security) in status sharing as some updates are only visible to selected people.

Close friends allow the user to make personal posts (photos, videos or messages) without sharing them with all their friends. According to beta testers, the feature is easy to utilize and is useful in ensuring privacy. After [beta testing](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2603/gmail-end-to-end-encryption-beta-testing-is-now-available-to-more-users-in-a-selected-workspace), WhatsApp Close Friend will probably be accessible to every user.

The release of WhatsApp Close Friend also indicates the [attention](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/45144/what-is-a-calling-attention) to privacy and [selective](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/81401/donald-trump-delivering-ventilators-to-selective-countries) sharing measured by the app. It is in line with the other social [application](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12824/calculator-application-in-android) trends which enable the user to share a moment without fear. WhatsApp Close Friend promotes closed / secure [interaction](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/80771/technology-is-destroying-human-interaction-how) by only displaying personal updates where assigned.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/4725/whatsapp-beta-introduces-instagram-style-close-friends-for-status-updates

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