Telegram is set to introduce a highly anticipated feature called “Stories.”
This new addition, which has been requested by users for years, aims to offer a unique and innovative take on the existing stories format found in various social media platforms.
In a recent announcement on Telegram, the app founder, Pavel Durov said the company expressed its initial reluctance to implement Stories due to their ubiquity.
However, Telegram’s dedication to listening to its users and driving innovation led them to develop a version of stories tailored to their platform.
“Privacy is a cornerstone of Telegram’s ethos, and the introduction of Stories will be no exception. Users will have precise control over who can view their stories, with options to select from four visibility settings: Everyone, only contacts (with exceptions), a few chosen contacts, or a list of Close Friends. This granular privacy feature distinguishes Telegram’s Stories from others in the market,” noted the founder.
To ensure a clutter-free experience, Telegram’s Stories will be located in an expandable section at the top of the chat list.
“This placement allows easy access without sacrificing valuable screen space,” Mr Durov noted.
Additionally, users will have the flexibility to hide stories from specific contacts, moving them to a separate “Hidden” list within the Contacts section.
Telegram’s Stories will not only offer multimedia content but also provide a platform for users to add context through captions, links, and tags of other individuals.
Leveraging the success of Telegram’s Video Messages, the new feature will support dual-camera functionality, enabling simultaneous capture from both the front and rear cameras.
Another noteworthy aspect of Telegram’s Stories is the optional ephemerality feature. Users can choose when their stories expire, with time options ranging from 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours.
Alternatively, stories can be permanently displayed on users’ profile pages, each with individual privacy settings.
The addition of Stories will also transform Telegram profiles, making them more informative and colorful.
“Users will have the opportunity to explore content shared by their closest contacts and discover additional information about individuals they interact with in groups or channel comments,” the enterpreneur noted.
Furthermore, Telegram channels will experience increased exposure and a surge in subscribers as the platform plans to enable reposting messages from Channels to Stories.
This new feature will facilitate the viral spread of content on Telegram, amplifying the reach and engagement of channel posts.
“After conducting internal tests, even skeptics within Telegram’s team began to appreciate the value of the Stories feature. As the official launch approaches, the company is confident that Stories will become an integral part of the Telegram experience, enhancing the app’s fun and social aspects,” the app founder noted.
Stories is currently in the final phase of testing and is scheduled to be available to Telegram users in early July.
With this upcoming release, Telegram users can anticipate an exciting new era for the platform, where connectivity and enjoyment will be further elevated.