Telegram

Telegram is a messaging app that stands out for its strong focus on large-scale communication. In addition to standard one-on-one and group messaging, Telegram introduces “Channels” — a unique feature that allows users to broadcast messages to an unlimited audience. Only channel admins can post, making it an effective tool for mass communication.

Core Messaging Functions:

Similar to apps like WhatsApp and Viber, Telegram uses mobile data or Wi-Fi to connect users. You can chat with individuals, join groups, send voice messages, share multimedia, use stickers and GIFs, and even make voice calls.

Beyond Basic Messaging:

What sets Telegram apart is its robust content-sharing capabilities. Channels serve as one-way communication streams where users can follow public or private topics, with only admins able to post content. These are commonly used for sharing updates on hobbies, news, or even by government agencies, which may display a verification badge.

Getting Started:

To use Telegram, you must register with a phone number. If you've already set it up on another device, logging in is easy using a QR code. While it may take some time to learn all the advanced features, helpful tutorials are widely available online.

Connecting with Others:

Telegram syncs with your phone’s contacts, showing you who else uses the app. You can also add a username, which makes it easy for others to find you without sharing your phone number directly. Group chats can include up to 200,000 members and are designed for smooth, organized conversation. Users can personalize their chat backgrounds using built-in images or photos from their device.

In addition to text, you can send videos and take advantage of Telegram’s built-in photo editing tools, which include options like exposure adjustment, saturation, blurring, and curves.

Channels: Broadcast to the Masses:

Channels are ideal for one-way communication, letting admins share content with a limitless number of subscribers. You can create a channel easily by naming it, setting a URL, and inviting others. Users can discover channels through the global search feature, shared links, or curated lists on websites.

Extra Features:

Telegram also supports bots that can provide interactive features such as quizzes and educational tests. A large library of professionally designed stickers — over 20,000 — is available. To help manage conversations, users can sort chats into folders and customize settings.

Security and Privacy:

Security is a major strength of Telegram. It offers end-to-end encryption and cloud-based messaging, rivaling secure platforms like Signal and Threema. Telegram doesn’t include ads and doesn’t share your data with third parties. The app is free and is funded by donations.

For added privacy, users can initiate Secret Chats where messages self-destruct after a set time. You can also set your account to delete itself automatically after a period of inactivity.

Phone Number Privacy:

Telegram doesn’t make your phone number visible to everyone by default. You control who sees it — typically only your contacts unless you change this. You can also limit who can find you using your number.

To manage these settings:

1. Open the app.
2. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number.
3. Choose “Nobody” for who can see your number.
4. Set who can find you by number to “My Contacts” for more privacy.

Cross-Platform Availability:

Telegram supports multiple platforms, offering apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Conversations and channels sync seamlessly across devices, and there’s a web version as well.

Powerful but Underappreciated:

Telegram is one of the most secure and feature-rich messaging platforms available. Its standout features, especially channels, offer unique ways to communicate. The main downside is the lack of native video calling — but if that’s not a priority, Telegram is a top-tier option for private and group communication.