Is Telegram Messenger safe? What parents need to know

Telegram, launched in 2013, is a messaging app similar to Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger. It allows users to send messages on WiFi or mobile data. In October 2021, it saw a surge in users and continues to grow as people move away apps owned by larger companies to stay safe online.

The app serves as a cloud-based messaging platform, accessible on any device. This lets you keep track of your messages easily. Users can send files of any type, make video calls and participate in group chats. To use the Telegram app safely, users can enable encryption and disappearing messages.

Users sign up with their mobile numbers quickly and easily to access all of the app’s features.

Telegram is safest for those aged 16 and older, according to the Terms of Service. However, the Apple app store has it set for those 17 and older while the Google Play store simply rates it as requiring parental guidance. The sign-up process does not ask users for their age.

Telegram prides itself on its security features, which include options for messages between users to be encrypted or disappear after a certain amount of time. There are also a few privacy settings that users can use. Simply go to Settings > Privacy and Security settings to get started.

Phone number

When users sign up, the app automatically allows contacts to see the mobile number they registered with. Other options include allowing everyone or no one to see the number. Additionally, users can add exceptions. For example, a parent might be able to see their child’s number but no one else may.

Last seen & online

A user’s last seen time is automatically visible to everyone, but they can set it to be visible to contacts only or to no one. Users can add exceptions here to prevent specific people from seeing this information.

Profile photos

Everyone can automatically see users’ profile photos. Users can change the setting to contacts only, with exceptions for those who can never see the profile photo.

Forwarded messages

Users can control whether messages forwarded from them will link back to their profile. This setting automatically allows anyone to link back to a user’s profile, but users can set it to allow contacts only or no one, with exceptions.

Calls

Users can control who can call them. The app automatically allows everyone to call a user, but users can change this setting to contacts only or nobody. Users can add exceptions here as well in addition to an option that enables peer-to-peer calls. This is automatically set to be used with a user’s contacts but can also be set for nobody and everyone. Using this means that calls between one user and another will be able to communicate as normal with good call and video quality. Disabling it means that calls will instead be through Telegram servers entirely, which means that the callers’ IP address cannot be seen. It also means call and video quality aren’t as good.

Groups

Users set who can add them to a group chat, which can hold up to 200,000 people. The setting automatically allows everyone, but users can change it to contacts only. Users can also make exceptions here to prevent certain individuals from ever having permission to add them.

Passcode lock

Users can protect their Telegram account and app with a passcode set and only known by them.

Two-Step Verification

Users set a password that, along with a code sent via SMS, they must enter when logging in on a new device.

Active Sessions

This feature shows users where else they’re using their account and on which devices. Users can log out of all other sessions to ensure no one else is using their Telegram account.

Millions of people use Telegram as an alternative to other messaging apps owned by larger companies. In October 2021, following a Facebook outage across various apps, the app gained over 70 million new users.

While utilising chat features that other popular apps already have, Telegram also has desired security features. It doesn’t share users’ information with third parties and it is very easy to use with a clean look, high quality video calls and group chat functions.

While many praise Telegram’s security features compared to other big apps, users are still required to sign up using a mobile phone number. This feature reduces how secure the app can be.

Users can also join groups that can hold up to 200,000 members, most of whom won’t personally know each other. Anyone can be invited by their mobile number or username to join a group. If privacy settings aren’t set to limit who can see a user’s account, then anyone from that group can see whether or not someone is online and any other information available.

Additionally, while users must be 16 or older to join the app, according to Telegram’s Terms of Service, the app does not ask for age confirmation upon download and sign up.

• Have regular conversations with your child about what they use to communicate with others online.
•  Check in on who they are chatting with online and what kind of information they’re sharing.
•  Help your teen with privacy settings to keep them safe and happy online.
•  Do regular mobile health checks to ensure their devices and apps are up-to-date for the latest security settings.