There are a range of factors to use Telegram, from its convenient multi-device sync to its fun sticker labels as well as various other chat functions. As well as while Telegram has substantially increased its popularity in recent times, there are some disadvantages of the application to consider, also.
Let's consider several of the potential reasons you might wish to step far from Telegram. Not all of them will apply to every person, yet it's good to recognize the weaknesses in each application you count on.
1. Telegram Chats Aren't End-to-End Encrypted by Default
If you're not as well accustomed to Telegram, you might assume that all your chats are secured with end-to-end security by default, like they are on WhatsApp and also Signal. However this isn't the situation.
Telegram encrypts your messages as they take a trip in between your tool and also the Telegram web server. These messages sit on the web server so you can access them from multiple devices. A breach of Telegram's servers might hence cause your messages being exposed.
The solution offers end-to-end file encryption in its secret chats, but you have to start these manually. If you forget to start one, or someone else begins a non-secret chat with you, it does not appreciate the very same privacy defenses.
2. Telegram Collects Your Contact Data
By default, Telegram accumulates standard information concerning the get in touches with on your phone. When a person you know indications up for Telegram as well as to show their name in the solution, the firm says it does this to alert you. When a person you understand signs up with Telegram, you'll see the name you have actually saved for the get in touch with, not their Telegram screen name.
While Telegram just keeps the first and last names and also contact number of your calls, this can still be a little bit rough for an app that's concentrated on personal privacy. Getting an alert every time a pal signs up with the app is a pain, though you can thankfully transform this off.
Telegram also utilizes contact number to find out which of your calls understand one of the most Telegram customers, as the Telegram Privacy Policy states:
Our automatic algorithms can also use anonymized sets of phone numbers to calculate the approximate number of potential contacts an unregistered phone number may have on Telegram. When you open the "Invite friends" interface, we display the resulting statistics next to your contacts to give you an idea of who could benefit most from joining Telegram.
3. Telegram Has Limited Support
Ideally, you won't ever before have a trouble with Telegram that requires you to call the assistance group. Telegram offers limited support; the main choices are reaching out on X (previously Twitter), going to the Telegram Support type, or going to Settings > Ask a Question in the application.
Getting ahold of somebody who really functions at the business could be difficult if you have deeper troubles with the app. This isn't a massive knock against Telegram, however maybe a problem for some.
4. Your Friends Might Not Use It
A lot of the prospective factors to avoid Telegram relate to functionality, safety, as well as privacy. There's one more useful factor that's very easy to ignore: if your good friends aren't on Telegram, there's not much point in utilizing it.
You might be able to convince a few buddies to make an account on Telegram to make a team chat with them, but that just goes so far. Lots of people won't want to bother downloading a second messaging app simply to speak with you when WhatsApp, iMessage, SMS, or whatever else they currently make use of works fine for their requirements.
Telegram still has some value if you use it alone; check out the best Telegram networks to join to see just how. But any type of messenger is a lot far better when you can talk with the majority of your friends in one area.
5. Advertisements and also a Subscription Plan
Apps like Telegram have to make money in some way, particularly as they scale to offer hundreds of countless individuals. Most of the time, applications present money making by revealing advertisements, and also Telegram is no exemption.
In late 2021 and early 2022, Telegram started rolling out advertisements in its application. See the distinctions between Telegram teams and also channels if you aren't familiar.
While these advertisements are non-intrusive and privacy-conscious, they're still irritating to see in what was when a completely cost-free app.
In June 2022, Telegram introduced Telegram Premium, an optional registration service that gives you additional goodies. These include doubling the documents size upload restriction, giving special stickers, allowing you produce a lot more folders to arrange your chats, and also getting rid of advertisements.
At $5/month, Telegram Premium isn't worth it for most individuals. It's frustrating that the app secures some useful functions behind a paywall, particularly contrasted to other messaging applications that do not include registrations or ads.
6. Miscellaneous Telegram Concerns
We've checked out some of the significant factors you might intend to tip far from Telegram. There are a couple of various other minor factors to consider to keep in mind, including:
- While this is up to individual choice, some people grumble that Telegram's interface isn't visually pleasing. Telegram supports personalized styles, though, which must attend to any issues below.
- You can just sign up with a mobile phone number; there's no option to register with just an email address, or another thing. This may be an obstruction for you.
It's Up to You Whether to Use Telegram
This isn't a listing of factors to encourage you to promptly stop utilizing Telegram. Instead, it's a set of factors to consider you must bear in mind when you pick to make use of the solution. Several of these factors may be non-issues for you, or you can correct them with the appropriate settings.
If you choose to leave Telegram, make certain you stick with a safe and secure messaging app.
