India, Sept. 2 -- WhatsApp users may soon find their Status updates becoming more personal as the platform is testing a new feature inspired by Instagram. The messaging service, owned by Meta, is working on a 'Close Friends' option that will allow people to share selected updates with a smaller and more trusted group of contacts.

WhatsApp Status, similar to Instagram Stories, will enable users to post photos, short videos, or text updates that remain visible for 24 hours before disappearing. While it has a smaller user base in the U.S, the feature has wide popularity worldwide, with more than 1.5 billion people engaging with it daily, according to Meta.

Currently, WhatsApp offers three privacy choices for Status. Users can share updates...