Telegram

What Is Telegram?

Telegram is an instant messaging service that is cloud-based and used across multiple platforms, including smartphones and computers.

It was first launched back in 2013 and has since grown.

According to Telegram’s website, it is used by over 700 million monthly active users and is one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the entire world - so, it’s very popular.

But why is that?

Well, Telegram itself has two main core values as a company: speed, and security.

Their aim is to provide a free to use messaging service that provides customers with top security by offering to encrypt messages.

Not only that but the company wants to protect the privacy of its users from marketers, advertisers, employers, and so on.

This is a pretty revolutionary idea in this current age of the internet, where every website is constantly trying to sell their users’ data.

Telegram also operates across multiple platforms all at once, and allows messages to sync across devices with ease.

You can access Telegram in many different ways including apps for iOS devices, Android devices, macOS devices, Windows, and Linux computers.

You can be logged into Telegram across all of these platforms all at once and still your messages will sync up immediately.

So, Telegram may be another instant messaging service but it stands out from the crowd by offering its users additional security and ease of use.

Telegram Features

Telegram has a lot of different features on offer for its users, so let’s take a look at some to see if there are any that catches your eye.

Account Self-Destruction

Telegram offers a ton of different security features but one of it’s most interesting is account self-destruction.

Other than sounding totally cool, this feature works by deleting your account if you do not use Telegram within a set period of time.

You get to choose how long this is - ranging from just a month to a whole year.

So, if you put down Telegram and forget about it for whatever reason, your details are not just sitting out there somewhere waiting to be leaked.

They are deleted after so long to keep your details safe and messages private.

Cloud-based Messages

We mentioned earlier how Telegram is a cloud-based messaging service and what this means is that you can access your messages from any connected device, share different files including audio messages and videos, contact thousands of people at once, and edit sent messages up to 48 hours after they have been sent.

There are a ton of different pros to cloud-based messaging that Telegram takes advantage of so its users have ultimate speed, control, and privacy.

Secret Chats

Speaking of privacy, users can also start encrypted secret chats in which messages can only be accessed on the device they are sent from (and accepted on).

This is a pay-to-use feature so if you want to access this feature, you need to be willing to upgrade to a paid plan. However, it offers customers ultimate privacy.

Encrypted Calls

In 2017, Telegram introduced encrypted voice calls which meant that the security and privacy offered through text chats now extended to voice calls too.

By 2020, this extended again to include video calling and group calls. Again, this is another pay to use feature but a great one if you want that additional privacy.

Channels

Channels are different from group chats as only one user can create and post messages, while other users are simply there to observe.

This feature can be used in many different ways but one popular one has been as newsfeeds.

Bots

This feature is exclusively for third-party developers and it allows automatic messages, group invitations, and mentions to be sent out in groups or channels.

They can be blocked by users with ease but it gives companies and groups the ability to automatically send important recurring messages.

Who Uses Telegram?

Telegram can be used by individuals to massive organizations and businesses, thanks to its ability to create groups with up to 200,000 members or channels which can broadcast messages to an unlimited number of people.

As a result, Telegram can be used by businesses to address their clients or employees, or simply be used for personal messages to your friends and family.

It even has a few celebrity users including big stars and politicians such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

However, Telegram’s exceptional security features have made it a popular platform for fringe and extremist groups.

ISIS and the Anti-Defamation League are just two of the many fringe groups who use the platform to exchange information and even coordinate attacks and hate crimes.

Telegram has made moves to take down such channels and groups.

Terrorism-related content is not the only issue with Telegram and the groups who misuse its services.

There have also been issues with the service being used to distribute child pornography and leak personal data through bots.

Again, Telegram have made moves to try and limit this behavior on their platform by banning bots and having an open email where users can report child abuse content.

How Can I Use Telegram?

Telegram is free to sign up to and all you need to do is download the app, either on a smartphone or desktop computer.

Once you have completed the download, you will be prompted to make your own profile.

You will need to have access to a telephone number as accounts on Telegram are verified either through SMS or a phone call.

Then, you can start using its services - it’s really as easy as that!

Final Thoughts

And that’s everything you need to know about Telegram!

Check out the information above to find out if it’s really the instant messaging service for you.