Telegram
High riskRated High · How we rate
An encrypted messaging app with almost no content moderation — used by teens and extremist groups alike.
Ages 16+
| Minimum age | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Strangers can contact | with settings |
| Location sharing | No |
| Disappearing messages | Yes |
| Parental visibility | None |
Telegram is an encrypted messaging app that positions itself as privacy-focused. Unlike WhatsApp or iMessage, Telegram has public channels with millions of subscribers, group chats of up to 200,000 members, and almost no content moderation. This makes it a home for everything from legitimate privacy advocates to extremist content, drug sales, and explicit material. For teens, the risks are the open channels they can stumble into and the anonymous accounts that can contact them. Telegram usernames can be found and contacted without sharing a phone number.
How to check if your child has Telegram
- Search "Telegram" on their home screen and app library
- Check the App Store download history
If they have it and you want to allow it
- Open Telegram → Settings → Privacy and Security
- Phone Number → Who can see my phone number → Nobody
- Who can find me by my number → My Contacts
- Last Seen & Online → Nobody
- Profile Photos → My Contacts
- Calls → My Contacts
- Groups & Channels → My Contacts (prevents strangers from adding them to groups)
Check their channel subscriptions
- Tap the search icon → look at recent searches
- Tap the three lines → see all joined groups and channels
- Any channel with unfamiliar names — ask about it
Red flags
- Secret Chats (self-destructing messages)
- Channels with large follower counts they can't explain
- Unknown contacts they've added
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