Telegram Rolls Out Exciting New Features to Enhance Messaging and Elevate User Experience

 Instant messaging app Telegram has rolled out 11 new features with its latest update, aiming to elevate user experience and enrich communication possibilities for over 800 million of its monthly active users. These include a more seamless exploration of ‘Similar Channels,’ as well as improving stories with advanced features such as ‘Reposting Stories’ and beyond.

Similar Channels:

To simplify channel discovery, users now have access to a list of similar public channels upon joining a channel. This feature is driven by automatic selection based on similarities in subscriber bases, making it easier for users to find content aligned with their interests.

Users can also access Similar Channels from a channel’s profile.

Reposting Stories:

Users now have the power to amplify the reach of stories from friends and favourite channels with just two taps. The option to add extra content such as text, audio, or video comments enhances the storytelling experience. Reposting is restricted to stories visible to ‘Everyone,’ ensuring privacy protection.

To repost a story, tap the share arrow and select ‘Repost Story’ – to protect privacy, only stories that are visible to ‘Everyone’ can be reposted.

Video Messages on Stories:

When posting a story, you can now add a video message to supply commentary or simply make a face. These messages can be resized, moved around the screen, and placed along the time axis, providing limitless creative possibilities for users to express themselves

To capture a video message, simply press and hold the camera icon within the story editor. Manage the volume by holding down on the video track located at the bottom of the screen.

Profile Colors:

Telegram Premium users now have access to even more customization options such as “Profile Colors” which allows users to set a unique color combination with logos for their profiles. Additionally, Premium users can set wallpapers for both sides in individual chats, creating a cohesive visual experience.

To customize your messages or profile, go to Settings > Chat Settings > Change Your Color on Android. On iOS, it’s under Settings > Appearance > Your Color.

Wallpapers for Both Sides:

While anyone can set custom wallpapers for individual chats, Premium users can now extend their personalization to both sides of the conversation. Applying the same appearance for both themselves and their chat partner enhances the visual cohesion of the messaging experience.

To set a custom wallpaper in any 1-on-1 chat, tap ⋮ (on iOS, open the user’s profile, then select ⋯) > Change Wallpaper.

Voice-to-Text for Everyone:

The voice-to-text feature, once exclusive to Premium users, is now available to all users. With the ability to convert up to 2 messages per week into text, this feature facilitates quick understanding of audio content or even translation in different languages.

Story Stats for Channels:

Channels with story-posting capabilities can now access detailed statistics, including views, shares, and reactions. The addition of story stats provides valuable insights for channels to track the performance and reach of their content.

Story stats can be seen by tapping ⋮/⋯ when viewing your story, or in Channel Info > ⋮/⋯ > Statistics.

Custom Reactions for Channels:

Channel admins now have a revamped interface for managing reactions. Channels can include custom emoji in addition to standard reactions, allowing for a more personalized and engaging user experience.

Code Highlighting in Messages:

Thanks to the winner of a recent coding contest, all Telegram apps are now able to detect the coding language and highlight the syntax in messages sent with “`code formatting“` – so users can finally see the difference between Java and C#.

Improvements for Topics:

In groups with Topics enabled, users’ viewing preferences are now saved, providing a more seamless experience when reopening groups.

Thanos Snap Effects on iOS:

Auto-deleted messages on iOS now feature a visually stunning animation upon reaching the expiration timer, adding a touch of excitement to user interactions.

Telegram’s commitment to innovation is evident in these feature-rich updates, paving the way for a messaging experience that is both dynamic and personalized. Users can gradually delve into these enhancements, ensuring a seamless transition into the next phase of Telegram’s evolution.

For more information, please visit Telegram’s latest blog: Similar Channels, Reposting Stories, and 9 More Features