Telegram Launches Stories Feature for Premium Users

Telegram, the popular messaging app, has announced a new feature that will allow its premium users to share ephemeral photos and videos with their contacts. The feature, called “Stories“, is similar to the ones found on other social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

Stories are short-lived posts that disappear after 24 hours. Users can add stickers, filters, text, and music to their stories, and also see who has viewed them. Stories can be shared with all contacts, specific groups, or individual users. Users can also reply to stories with text messages or voice notes.

According to Telegram, the feature is designed to help users express themselves more freely and creatively, without worrying about leaving a permanent trace on the internet. The feature is also meant to encourage more engagement and interaction among users, as they can react to each other’s stories and start conversations.

However, the feature is not available for all Telegram users. Only those who have subscribed to Telegram’s premium plan, which costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, can access the feature. The premium plan also offers other benefits, such as unlimited cloud storage, advanced security features, and access to exclusive channels and stickers.

Telegram claims that the premium plan is necessary to support the development and maintenance of the app, which does not rely on ads or data collection for revenue. The app also says that it respects the privacy and freedom of its users, and does not impose any restrictions or censorship on their content.

Telegram’s introduction of Stories comes at a time when the app is facing stiff competition from other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Facebook Messenger. Telegram has been trying to attract more users by offering features that differentiate it from its rivals, such as end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, bots, and channels.

However, some users may not be happy with the idea of paying for a feature that is available for free on other platforms. Some users may also prefer to keep their messages more permanent and searchable, rather than ephemeral and fleeting. Moreover, some users may be concerned about the security and privacy of their stories, especially if they are shared with strangers or large groups.

Telegram has not revealed how many users have subscribed to its premium plan, or how many users have used its Stories feature so far. The app has over 500 million active users worldwide, according to its latest statistics. The app is especially popular in countries like Russia, Iran, India, and Brazil, where it is seen as a more secure and independent alternative to other apps.

Telegram’s Stories feature is currently available on its Android and iOS apps. Users can update their apps to the latest version to access the feature. Users can also visit Telegram’s official website or blog for more information and tutorials on how to use the feature.