WhatsApp is expanding its privacy controls with a new feature called Custom Lists, currently in development for status updates. The move comes after initial work on a “Close Friends” feature began in September 2025, signaling a broader effort to give users more granular control over who sees their content.
According to information discovered by WABetaInfo, the Custom Lists feature is available in the latest Android beta version, 2.26.5.11. It allows users to create multiple, distinct audiences for their status updates, offering a level of privacy management similar to that found on platforms like Facebook.
Users will be able to name each list and assign it a corresponding emoji. This allows for effortless organization of contacts into groups such as family, colleagues, or professional networks. The feature’s design reflects a growing trend among social platforms to prioritize user privacy and content control.
Changes made to these custom lists will only apply to future status updates. WABetaInfo notes that contacts removed from a list after a status has been posted will still be able to view older updates, but won’t see any new content shared with different lists.
WABetaInfo has also shared screenshots illustrating the “Close Friends” option alongside the other existing status privacy settings currently available within WhatsApp.
Neither the Close Friends feature nor Custom Lists are yet available to the general public, including beta program participants. Users will need to wait for an official release to access these new privacy tools.
