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WhatsApp or Instagram, that’s what everyone is asking Meta as both the platforms converge with identical feature additions.
WhatsApp status updates have got ads and more Instagram features are expected
WhatsApp is getting more features borrowed from Instagram in the last 12 months and a new report claims we might see more added to the messaging app and its new armoury. The platform has offered Status updates for its users and the new update could see us get the close friends option that will limit the update with select contacts.
The Updates section on WhatsApp is also the first where you have ads and Meta is looking to integrate more features across its products.
WhatsApp Close Friends Status Update: What We Know
As mentioned in the report by WaBetaInfo, this new feature has been spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android version which is still in development and should be available for beta testers soon.
The Close friends feature is likely to work in the same way as Instagram, which means you can manually select the contacts with whom you want to share a particular update.
The messaging app will show you a drop-down menu ‘Who can see my status update’ where you will have options like ‘my contacts’, My contacts except, Only share with, and close friends. And like how the close group stories on Instagram reflect on the feed, this WhatsApp status update will have a different colour on the ring which will not be visible to everyone.
WhatsApp is entering a new era under the Meta ownership with AI, ads and premium features likely to be part of the intriguing evolution for the popular messaging platform. We had recently come across reports about Meta going premium with WhatsApp and Instagram and this new tip suggests WhatsApp could be primed for something more advanced which might not exactly please billions of users.
Unlike the recent AI additions, WhatsApp is likely to focus on more utility additions and WaBetaInfo is the tipster with the details. The premium version is tipped to have options like premium stickers, app themes, ability to set a ringtone for chats and a few more.
For Instagram users, Meta could also offer features like ability to see followers who don’t follow you back, or able to watch a Story without telling the person that you did view it.
Delhi, India, India
February 09, 2026, 09:17 IST
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