Telegram: Difference between revisions

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===User Privacy===

Telegram does not sell user data to advertise to its clients, and only stores the data needed to moderate and keep its messaging client "secure and feature-rich"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Privacy Policy |url=https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Telegram Privacy Policy}}</ref>.

Telegram does not sell user data to advertise to its clients, and only stores the data needed to moderate and keep its messaging client "secure and feature-rich"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Privacy Policy |url=https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901100421/https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |archive-date=1 Sep 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Telegram Privacy Policy}}</ref>.

Telegram has official clients for most major platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and web browsers. Telegram also officially allows custom clients, with some restrictions, mostly related to normal functioning of its official features (sponsored messages, online status visibility, self-destructing content).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram API Terms of Service |url=https://core.telegram.org/api/terms |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram}}</ref>

Telegram has official clients for most major platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and web browsers. Telegram also officially allows custom clients, with some restrictions, mostly related to normal functioning of its official features (sponsored messages, online status visibility, self-destructing content).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram API Terms of Service |url=https://core.telegram.org/api/terms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251102012210/https://core.telegram.org/api/terms |archive-date=2 Nov 2025 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram}}</ref>

Messages are only encrypted in transit between clients and servers by default. End-to-end encrypted chats are available as a distinct feature called "Secret Chats"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram FAQ: So how do you encrypt data? |url=https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data |url-status=live |website=Telegram}}</ref> with reduced functionality (e. g. no message synchronization between devices) and limited platform support (e. g. it's not supported on desktop clients) compared to normal ("Cloud") chats.

Messages are only encrypted in transit between clients and servers by default. End-to-end encrypted chats are available as a distinct feature called "Secret Chats"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram FAQ: So how do you encrypt data? |url=https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260110091219/https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data |archive-date=10 Jan 2026 |website=Telegram}}</ref> with reduced functionality (e. g. no message synchronization between devices) and limited platform support (e. g. it's not supported on desktop clients) compared to normal ("Cloud") chats.

===Business Model===

Telegram offers a subscription service called [https://telegram.org/faq_premium Telegram Premium]. This an optional service that will allow you to have enjoy extra features that are pay walled behind this subscription, such as larger uploads, faster download speed and some premium stickers and emojis. This subscription also includes minor privacy features such as the ability to hide one's "last seen" time and online status unilaterally (i. e. from those that do not hide it from them).

Telegram also operates an advertising platform [https://ads.telegram.org/ Telegram Ads] which displays sponsored messages in public channels that have 1000 or more subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Ad Platform Explained |url=https://ads.telegram.org/getting-started |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram Ads}}</ref>

Telegram also operates an advertising platform [https://ads.telegram.org/ Telegram Ads] which displays sponsored messages in public channels that have 1000 or more subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Ad Platform Explained |url=https://ads.telegram.org/getting-started |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251017014033/https://ads.telegram.org/getting-started |archive-date=17 Oct 2025 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram Ads}}</ref>

===Market Control===

Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, 51% of users use Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2024 |title=The audience of Internet users, social networks, messengers and VPN services |url=https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Levada-Center}}</ref> and in India, 48% of the population uses Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |title=Messenger usage by brand |url=https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_ind_202502?token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1&rows%5B0%5D=v0446_inte_brandsmessenger |website=Statista}}</ref>. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.

Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, 51% of users use Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2024 |title=The audience of Internet users, social networks, messengers and VPN services |url=https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704094202/https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2024 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Levada-Center}}</ref> and in India, 48% of the population uses Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |title=Messenger usage by brand |url=https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_ind_202502?token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1&rows%5B0%5D=v0446_inte_brandsmessenger |website=Statista}}</ref>. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.

In a global view, Telegram is the 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ceci |first=Laura |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of February 2025, based on number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Statista}}</ref>, ahead of [[Snapchat]] and just behind [[Facebook Messenger]].

In a global view, Telegram is the 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ceci |first=Laura |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of February 2025, based on number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309170554/https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |archive-date=9 Mar 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Statista}}</ref>, ahead of [[Snapchat]] and just behind [[Facebook Messenger]].

Despite growing consistently in clients, Telegram now faces scrutiny in India and a potential ban, which would very negatively affect its user numbers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/|title=Telegram Ban Update - Is Telegram Banned in India?|date=2024-08-29|work=SG Analytics|access-date=2025-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513202454/https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/|archive-date=2025-05-13|url-status=live}}</ref>

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===Sudden change of stance on sharing data when pressured (2024)===

Telegram was known for not selling information, and having a pretty tight fist on its clients data and information, even towards the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=23 Sep 2024 |title=After CEO’s arrest, Telegram says it will now turn some bad actors’ data over to law enforcement |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> After Pavel Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Telegram started sharing user data, IP addresses, and phone numbers more freely to the authorities for criminal investigations, and to governments that requested such data.

Telegram was known for not selling information, and having a pretty tight fist on its clients data and information, even towards the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=23 Sep 2024 |title=After CEO’s arrest, Telegram says it will now turn some bad actors’ data over to law enforcement |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923211626/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes/ |archive-date=23 Sep 2024 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> After Pavel Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Telegram started sharing user data, IP addresses, and phone numbers more freely to the authorities for criminal investigations, and to governments that requested such data.

==See also==

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ===User Privacy===
-Telegram does not sell user data to advertise to its clients, and only stores the data needed to moderate and keep its messaging client "secure and feature-rich"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Privacy Policy |url=https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Telegram Privacy Policy}}</ref>.
+Telegram does not sell user data to advertise to its clients, and only stores the data needed to moderate and keep its messaging client "secure and feature-rich"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Privacy Policy |url=https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901100421/https://telegram.org/privacy/eu?setln=en |archive-date=1 Sep 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Telegram Privacy Policy}}</ref>.
-Telegram has official clients for most major platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and web browsers. Telegram also officially allows custom clients, with some restrictions, mostly related to normal functioning of its official features (sponsored messages, online status visibility, self-destructing content).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram API Terms of Service |url=https://core.telegram.org/api/terms |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram}}</ref>
+Telegram has official clients for most major platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and web browsers. Telegram also officially allows custom clients, with some restrictions, mostly related to normal functioning of its official features (sponsored messages, online status visibility, self-destructing content).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram API Terms of Service |url=https://core.telegram.org/api/terms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251102012210/https://core.telegram.org/api/terms |archive-date=2 Nov 2025 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram}}</ref>
-Messages are only encrypted in transit between clients and servers by default. End-to-end encrypted chats are available as a distinct feature called "Secret Chats"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram FAQ: So how do you encrypt data? |url=https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data |url-status=live |website=Telegram}}</ref> with reduced functionality (e. g. no message synchronization between devices) and limited platform support (e. g. it's not supported on desktop clients) compared to normal ("Cloud") chats.
+Messages are only encrypted in transit between clients and servers by default. End-to-end encrypted chats are available as a distinct feature called "Secret Chats"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram FAQ: So how do you encrypt data? |url=https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260110091219/https://telegram.org/faq#q-so-how-do-you-encrypt-data |archive-date=10 Jan 2026 |website=Telegram}}</ref> with reduced functionality (e. g. no message synchronization between devices) and limited platform support (e. g. it's not supported on desktop clients) compared to normal ("Cloud") chats.
 ===Business Model===
 Telegram offers a subscription service called [https://telegram.org/faq_premium Telegram Premium]. This an optional service that will allow you to have enjoy extra features that are pay walled behind this subscription, such as larger uploads, faster download speed and some premium stickers and emojis. This subscription also includes minor privacy features such as the ability to hide one's "last seen" time and online status unilaterally (i. e. from those that do not hide it from them).
-Telegram also operates an advertising platform [https://ads.telegram.org/ Telegram Ads] which displays sponsored messages in public channels that have 1000 or more subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Ad Platform Explained |url=https://ads.telegram.org/getting-started |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram Ads}}</ref>
+Telegram also operates an advertising platform [https://ads.telegram.org/ Telegram Ads] which displays sponsored messages in public channels that have 1000 or more subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telegram Ad Platform Explained |url=https://ads.telegram.org/getting-started |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251017014033/https://ads.telegram.org/getting-started |archive-date=17 Oct 2025 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Telegram Ads}}</ref>
 ===Market Control===
-Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, 51% of users use Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2024 |title=The audience of Internet users, social networks, messengers and VPN services |url=https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Levada-Center}}</ref> and in India, 48% of the population uses Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |title=Messenger usage by brand |url=https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_ind_202502?token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1&rows%5B0%5D=v0446_inte_brandsmessenger |website=Statista}}</ref>. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.
+Telegram has a huge market in Russia, India and Brazil. In Russia, 51% of users use Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2024 |title=The audience of Internet users, social networks, messengers and VPN services |url=https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704094202/https://www.levada.ru/en/2024/06/14/the-audience-of-internet-users-social-networks-messengers-and-vpn-services/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2024 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Levada-Center}}</ref> and in India, 48% of the population uses Telegram<ref>{{Cite web |title=Messenger usage by brand |url=https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_ind_202502?token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1&rows%5B0%5D=v0446_inte_brandsmessenger |website=Statista}}</ref>. In the USA, only 9% uses this platform.
-In a global view, Telegram is the 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ceci |first=Laura |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of February 2025, based on number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Statista}}</ref>, ahead of [[Snapchat]] and just behind [[Facebook Messenger]].
+In a global view, Telegram is the 4th most popular mobile messaging client as of 2024, with 950 million users<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ceci |first=Laura |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of February 2025, based on number of monthly active users |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309170554/https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/ |archive-date=9 Mar 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=Statista}}</ref>, ahead of [[Snapchat]] and just behind [[Facebook Messenger]].
 Despite growing consistently in clients, Telegram now faces scrutiny in India and a potential ban, which would very negatively affect its user numbers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/|title=Telegram Ban Update - Is Telegram Banned in India?|date=2024-08-29|work=SG Analytics|access-date=2025-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513202454/https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/is-telegram-banned-in-india/|archive-date=2025-05-13|url-status=live}}</ref>
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ===Sudden change of stance on sharing data when pressured (2024)===
-Telegram was known for not selling information, and having a pretty tight fist on its clients data and information, even towards the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=23 Sep 2024 |title=After CEO’s arrest, Telegram says it will now turn some bad actors’ data over to law enforcement |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes |url-status=live |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> After Pavel Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Telegram started sharing user data,  IP addresses, and phone numbers more freely to the authorities for criminal investigations, and to governments that requested such data.
+Telegram was known for not selling information, and having a pretty tight fist on its clients data and information, even towards the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=23 Sep 2024 |title=After CEO’s arrest, Telegram says it will now turn some bad actors’ data over to law enforcement |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923211626/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes/ |archive-date=23 Sep 2024 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> After Pavel Durov's arrest in France in 2024, Telegram started sharing user data,  IP addresses, and phone numbers more freely to the authorities for criminal investigations, and to governments that requested such data.
 ==See also==