What do you want to know
- Telegram is starting to roll out its latest update with a focus on user privacy.
- This update removes the SIM card required for new accounts, allowing them to log in using an anonymous blockchain-powered number.
- Topics 2.0 was also introduced, extending it to groups of 100 or more members.
Telegram’s latest update removes the need for a SIM card to sign up while introducing Topics 2.0.
According to the official Telegram blog, several new features are coming with its latest update. The first – and arguably the most important – new feature has been designed with the privacy and security of Telegram users in mind. This involves a few new additions with this update, and it all starts with Telegram no longer requiring users to have a SIM card before creating an account.
Privacy first
Telegram already does not disclose your phone number to strangers, leaving it in your hands who sees it and whether you can be found by your phone number. Starting this week, users can create a SIM-free account and log in using an anonymous blockchain-powered number available through its Fragment platform.
To further advance user safety on Telegram, the platform is introducing its automatic chat deletion feature. This was a feature the company built into the app years ago, and it’s now evolving further with this latest update, allowing users to set a global timer that will automatically delete messages in every new chat they are participating in.
Your existing chats won’t be affected by this timer, but Telegram says you can easily extend the auto-delete timer to include those chats in its settings. The messaging platform explains that users can head to their Settings > Privacy and security > Automatic deletion of messages to further customize the app to their liking.
You can now automatically delete messages in smaller groups, only if you’re a member with some sort of control over the group, like changing its name and photo.
In a last-ditch effort for better user privacy, users who don’t have a Telegram username or hide their phone number from everyone on the platform can now generate a temporary QR code. This time-sensitive code can be sent to other people so they can connect with you without needing to know your phone number.
More topics
Telegram’s latest update came back in November, which brought topics in groups and usernames to collect. The update that is rolling out today expands the topics a bit more as we learn about Topics 2.0.
Topics are first expanded to include groups of 100 or more members. Groups have also been given a default channel titled “General” for service messages and pre-topic message history. This is basically a place to find older posts, but admins can rename or hide this channel if they wish.
If you want to see all the latest posts, you can now switch your view mode to “View as posts”. Each post presented to you will have a button showing where it was posted, and tapping on it will take you directly to it.
To make the user interface easier to navigate, Telegram has added a bolder accent color for topics you’ve already visited, with those you haven’t yet touched a lighter color. Groups also support up to 5 pinned topics, although there can be an unlimited number of pinned posts in each topic.
Spam, storage and emoji
The Telegram update shifts gears as we move on to some quality of life improvements starting with anti-spam. As with any service that allows users to send messages to each other, spam is an unavoidable nuisance. Telegram is looking to alleviate some of the stress by adding a new proactive anti-spam feature.
Administrators of groups with more than 200 members can highlight the full force of this anti-spam function by using Telegram’s algorithm. Admins can turn on “aggressive mode” to enable automatic spam filters across the group. Errors can happen, and if they do happen, administrators can report any messages falsely deleted by the spam filter through the Recent Actions tab.
iOS users also benefit from the emoji search function already used by Android Telegram users.
Android users also get a polished storage usage page, quite similar to what iOS users see. This page will now detail the space occupied by your cats. Users will also find the option to delete an individual chat’s media from their caches, such as photos, videos, music, and files. Live Locations also got additional support from Android developers in third-party apps as they worked to improve its design.
Emoji packs are back as Telegram adds 10 more new packs of these colorful and animated means of expression for users. You will find new packs like Shark, Motty, Panda, Camomile and Koala. Just like the other packs, users can use these new emojis in messages, reactions, and statuses.
Interactive emojis have been enhanced with this new update. Tossing one and then tapping on it will bring out its full-screen effect for a burst of colorful fun. These interactive emojis are available for all users to use in reaction.
