What Does Telegram Mean for Celebrities and Their Fans?

Telegram is a messaging app that has gained popularity among celebrities and their fans in recent years.

But what does Telegram mean for them, and why is it different from other social media platforms?

In this article, we will explore the features, benefits, and controversies of Telegram, and how it is changing the way celebrities communicate with their followers.

What Is Telegram?

Telegram is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app that was launched in 2013 by Russian brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov.

The app claims to offer fast, secure, and powerful communication features, such as:

• End-to-end encryption for voice and video calls, and for “secret chats” that can self-destruct after a set time.
• No limits on the size of media and chats, allowing users to send and receive large files, such as photos, videos, music, and documents.
• Synced across multiple devices, enabling users to access their messages from any connected device, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
• Open API and source code, allowing developers to create their own bots, apps, and clients for Telegram.
• Groups that can hold up to 200,000 members, and channels that can broadcast messages to unlimited subscribers.
• Customizable appearance and functionality, letting users choose from various themes, stickers, emojis, fonts, and languages.

Why Do Celebrities Use Telegram?

Telegram has attracted many celebrities who use it to interact with their fans in a more personal and direct way than other social media platforms.

Some of the reasons why celebrities prefer Telegram are:

• Privacy: Telegram allows celebrities to create usernames that do not reveal their phone numbers or personal information. They can also use secret chats to have private conversations with selected fans or contacts. Additionally, Telegram does not collect or share user data with third parties, unlike Facebook-owned WhatsApp or Instagram.
• Control: Telegram gives celebrities more control over their content and audience. They can create channels to share exclusive news, updates, behind-the-scenes footage, or previews of their upcoming projects. They can also moderate their groups and channels by deleting unwanted messages, banning abusive users, or appointing admins to help them manage their communities.
• Engagement: Telegram enables celebrities to engage with their fans in a more intimate and interactive way than other social media platforms. They can send voice or video messages, reply to individual or group chats, conduct polls or quizzes, or host live Q&A sessions.

How does Telegram work?

Telegram’s core features are similar to those of most messaging apps.

You can message other Telegram users, create group chats, initiate calls, make video calls, and share files and stickers.

Nonetheless, there are distinctive aspects that set it apart from other chat applications.

Foremost, Telegram places a strong emphasis on privacy, and it achieves this through end-to-end encryption.

This security measure prevents external parties, whether they are entities like corporations, government bodies, hackers, or others, from accessing the content of a two-way conversation.

However, it’s important to note that Telegram employs end-to-end encryption only for calls and its “secret chats” feature, not for regular chats, which are encrypted solely from the client to the server.

In contrast, WhatsApp, often perceived as less secure, has implemented end-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, and video calls since 2016.

Telegram prioritizes privacy and security and operates independently, without ties to larger corporations such as Facebook.

Telegram’s unique approach is also linked to its extensive use of cloud storage.

All your messages and media are securely stored on a server, allowing you to access them from any connected device.

This feature makes Telegram more versatile across various platforms compared to other chat apps like WhatsApp.

Another user-friendly security feature is the use of usernames.

Instead of divulging your phone number, you can simply provide your username, offering you greater control over your available information and future contact methods.

For those seeking additional privacy, Telegram allows you to generate a temporary QR code for people to add you without needing your username or phone number.

As of 2023, Telegram has introduced a Stories feature, a popular addition seen in other social media and messaging apps.

However, only Premium members can create Stories, requiring a $5 subscription. Nonetheless, all members can view Stories as long as they are set to public.

Is Telegram safe to use?

In general, Telegram is as secure as, if not more secure than, many other messaging applications.

Some may argue that WhatsApp’s implementation of end-to-end encryption for all messages is a superior approach, but privacy advocates may be concerned due to WhatsApp’s association with Facebook/Meta.

Additionally, if you opt for the “secret chats” feature on Telegram, you receive the same high level of end-to-end encryption.

Furthermore, in secret chats, message forwarding and screenshot capture are disabled, and you can set messages to self-destruct.

Deleting a message not only removes it for yourself but also for all other users on the service.

Users also have the option to delete other users’ messages.

It’s important to note that all chats on Telegram are encrypted, even if not end-to-end encrypted.

Furthermore, it’s worth highlighting that Telegram’s business model doesn’t revolve around selling user data.

According to Telegram’s FAQ page, the company is financed by its founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, rather than relying on advertising or data collection and sharing.

On the same note, Telegram emphasizes one of its core principles of internet privacy, which is to safeguard users’ personal data from third parties, including marketers and advertisers.

This sets it apart from various services offered by companies like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and others.

However, it’s crucial to understand that using Telegram doesn’t guarantee that your messages are inherently more private or secure than when using WhatsApp or other messaging apps.

Potential vulnerabilities still exist, such as server-side data breaches, and no level of encryption can protect your data if your end device is already compromised.

What Are Some of the Controversies Surrounding Telegram?

Telegram is not without its controversies.

The app has been criticized for its role in facilitating illegal or harmful activities, such as:

• Terrorism: Telegram has been accused of being a platform for terrorists to spread propaganda, recruit followers, plan attacks, or evade authorities. The app has been used by groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the Taliban. Telegram has taken steps to remove terrorist content and accounts from its platform, but some critics argue that it is not enough.
• Extremism: Telegram has also been linked to extremist movements that use the app to disseminate hate speech, conspiracy theories, misinformation, or calls for violence. Some examples are white supremacists, neo-Nazis, QAnon supporters, anti-government militias, and Capitol rioters. Telegram has faced pressure from governments and civil society groups to crack down on extremist content and users on its platform.
• Piracy: Telegram has become a hub for piracy, where users can access or share copyrighted content, such as movies, TV shows, music, books, or games. The app has a feature called Telegram Passport, which allows users to store and verify their identity documents, such as passports, driver’s licenses, or bank cards. However, some hackers have exploited this feature to steal and sell personal data from Telegram users.

FAQs

Is Telegram Russian?

Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, hails from Russia, yet the company maintains complete independence from the Russian government. In fact, Durov left Russia in 2015 due to Kremlin pressure concerning his ownership of the social media network VKontakte. In the past, the app faced bans in Russia for refusing to disclose user data to the government. Currently, the company is headquartered in Dubai.

Does Telegram censor or remove content?

Telegram does take down content that infringes on copyright in public channels, sticker sets, and bots. However, the company is unable to access or delete content in private one-to-one or group chats.

Is Telegram encrypted?

Yes, all conversations are encrypted, but solely “secret chats” are inherently endowed with end-to-end encryption as the default setting.

Are Telegram calls free?

Yes. However, if you are not connected to Wi-Fi you may be subject to data charges if you go over your data limit.

Who owns Telegram?

Telegram was initiated by the Durov siblings, Nikolai and Pavel, who continue to be its current owners.

Conclusion

Telegram is a messaging app that offers many features and benefits for celebrities and their fans.

It allows them to communicate in a more private, direct, and engaging way than other social media platforms.

However, Telegram also has its drawbacks and risks, as it can be used for illegal or harmful purposes by some users.

Therefore, celebrities and their fans should be careful and responsible when using Telegram and always respect the app’s terms of service and community guidelines.

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