WhatsApp is currently testing a more efficient way for users to see who is active on the platform. Currently, checking if a friend is online requires the tedious process of opening individual chat threads to view their status at the top of the screen. According to recent reports from WABetaInfo, a new "Contacts" hub is in development for iOS that centralizes this information. This redesigned section will categorize users into groups—starting with your favorites, followed by those currently online, and finally, those who were recently active—making it significantly faster to see who is available to chat.

While this update promises a more dynamic social experience, it does not compromise privacy. The platform’s existing rules remain in place: you will only be able to view the online status of others if you have also enabled your own status for them to see. If you choose to hide your "last seen" or online visibility, you will remain invisible to others as well. The feature is expected to live within the Settings menu rather than the main chat list, suggesting it will serve as a convenient, optional tool for users. While there is no official release date yet, this addition could be a welcome change for those who frequently find themselves clicking through multiple conversations just to catch a friend online.