WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that could change how users share status updates. According to WABetaInfo, the messaging platform is testing the feature in limited regions, enabling users to share status updates with people not saved in their contacts but with whom they have recently interacted via chat or call.
Previously, status updates were only visible to contacts saved in a user’s phone. The new feature aims to expand reach while still maintaining selective sharing, complementing an earlier “close friends” option introduced in WhatsApp’s beta for Android.
The feature is currently under testing across Android, iOS, and the web, though a full rollout timeline has not yet been confirmed.
Analysts say the update could make WhatsApp statuses more versatile while giving users greater control over who can view their updates, marking a subtle but significant evolution in the app’s privacy settings.
