Although there are many applications, Telegram is one of the most used and useful platforms in the world. In fact, the messaging service, which competes with WhatsApp and Messenger, stands out for its high level of security in terms of protecting the messages exchanged. This selling point makes sense when its creator, the Russian Pavel Durov, explains that he invented this application in order to escape the authorities in his country. Telegram is also known for its many so-called secret groups. Find out more about this application as well as its channels.
Released in 2013, Telegram is a messaging platform originating from Russia that allows sending messages, audio calls, but also media files and documents of all kinds. It is quite simple to use and conversations between contacts are all protected. The same applies to Telegram groups that are created every day on this application.
It is a community that allows to gather between two and two hundred thousand people to participate in unlimited and long lasting broadcasts. All messages sent in the forum are therefore addressed to all participants. To access the forum, all you have to do is to be invited and click on the invitation link you received.
Each member of the group has the ability to send and receive messages from all others. To create one, it couldn’t be easier. For an iOS phone, write a new message and go to the icon in the top right corner of your phone. Click on “new group” and you’re done. For an Android phone, go to the list of exchanges and press the round icon with the image of a pencil. All you have to do is click on “new group”.
Why join a Telegram group
Although Telegram offers the option to create a group just like its competitors, it still stands out in many ways.
Access to a very large community
One of the great advantages of Telegram is the possibility of creating public and private forums, the latter constituting super groups and channels. Supergroups have the capacity to host up to 200,000 people and it is possible to appoint an administrator and even moderators for each of them. For your convenience, a URL is available to allow you to easily add people en masse. This option is indeed very useful to quickly create a discussion channel to cover an event for example.
Share your passions safely
Joining a Telegram group has many other advantages. One of them is that you have the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with people who have the same interests as you. Whether it’s a private or public group, the information, links and videos shared are accessible to you even after deleting the application or a long absence from the platform.
With these forums, you can also edit messages you have already posted. You can also remove them from the news of all other members.
Give priority to your content
If you are the creator of a group, you have the advantage of designating administrators who can clean up excess messages. They will also be able to make sure that the group rules work properly. In addition, if you want the group members to read an important message, you can pin it so that it can be displayed first when the group is opened.
Being part of a Telegram group also means taking part in informative discussions according to your interests. The best part is that the administrator can prevent or even ban the publication of content he or she deems inappropriate. Meanwhile, administrators will still be able to post messages even if other members are banned from discussion.
Get informed on a daily basis
Finally, joining a Telegram group increases your chances of associating with people who can teach you a lot in many areas. You can find tips in personal development forums to make money or discover new income-generating activities. You can also access useful information in your industry and general interest content.
Also, Telegram now allows audio from the device to keep playing as while recording video messages. Additionally, recording with your rear camera lets users pinch to zoom in and capture things at a distance or add a dramatic effect.
The media player on Telegram now supports 0.5x, 1.5x and 2x playback speeds. On Android, users can also play videos in 0.2x speed. On both Android and iOS, playback speed can be switched by going to options while watching videos in fullscreen. Android users can also press and hold the 2x button when playing voice or video messages to switch between 0.5x, 1x, 1.5x and 2x playback speed.
Telegram has introduced timestamp links, where users can press and hold on a timestamp in a message to copy the link and share the moment in another chat. Tapping on the timestamp will play the video from that point.
Screen sharing has now been added to one-on-one calls as well, and now includes the sound from user’s device when broadcasting in any video call.
HOW TO FIND TELEGRAM GROUPS
There are two types of groups. There are private groups that you can’t find or join unless you have been invited and added. That is the sole discretion of the creator or admin of the group. By default, groups are private because they were designed for friends and family members. This can be changed in the group settings.
Private groups have long complex URLs that you can share to invite new members. Public groups can have custom URLs which makes them easy to remember and share.
You can search for public Telegram groups but only if you know the exact name or username of the group. Otherwise, request the creator/admin of the group to send an invite or add you to the group.
Tap on the search icon at the top-right corner of the screen and type the public group name. You should view it at the top of the search results.
HOW TO JOIN TELEGRAM GROUPS
We saw there are two types of groups. We also saw how to find them, in the case of public groups. Private groups are not meant to be found, obviously.
Joining a public group is easy. Just tap on the group name in the search results and select the Join button at the bottom of the screen.
Everyone who is part of the group will view a message notifying them of the newest member of the group. A notification is also displayed when someone leaves the group which is also easy enough.
For those who have been invited via a link, clicking on the same will open the Telegram group automatically. Again, just tap the Join button.