Telegram has several useful features that WhatsApp does not, including multi-device support (multiple phones), channels for large communities, and support for multiple numbers within the same app. Telegram’s messaging service is getting even more features this week, as the company announced a few updates in a blog post. For starters, it now includes a “private content” option for groups and channels. This will allow group/channel owners to limit media uploading, screenshots, and recording to keep the group or channel content private. Another handy privacy feature is the new ability to delete messages by date. This applies to individual chats and allows you to delete chat history for a specific day or date range. What else was revealed? Moving on to multi-device support, Telegram has added a button to the devices menu that allows you to quickly link a desktop or laptop to your account via QR code. It’s also added a setting that logs you out of inactive devices after a certain amount of time (from a week to six months). Finally, the app now allows you to post as a channel in public groups and log in via a call (using the last few digits of the calling number as a verification code). This is Telegram’s final update for 2021, with previous updates bringing live streams, screen sharing, unlimited voice chats, auto-deletion messages, and video player improvements. So, we’re hoping that the WhatsApp team will take notes and implement some of these features in the coming year.
