As of 2024, misinformation and scams pose significant challenges in the digital landscape. It’s crucial to remain vigilant, as seemingly credible accounts can disseminate misleading information, and emails purportedly from “Google” may actually originate from imposters. Practicing caution and scrutiny of the data encountered on social media is essential, underscoring the need for proactive measures by platforms to shield users from unreliable information.

Telegram Introduces Enhanced Verification

This concern for user safety appears to be the driving force behind Telegram’s latest updates. The application already features a verification framework, allowing organizations and public figures to authenticate their identities with a blue badge. This helps users easily identify authentic communications from trusted sources. Many platforms offer similar verification (though not universally), and even Google is considering its own form of verification badges for search results.

However, Telegram’s recent feature allows verified organizations the opportunity to apply as a “third-party verifier.” This enables these entities to validate other accounts and chats as official as well. The design of these new verification icons will differ from the classic blue check, taking the form of distinct blue emojis or symbols. Verified accounts will display a banner indicating the verifying third party and the reasoning behind the validation.

This kind of verification is a positive step forward, fostering trust in accounts with established credibility on Telegram. It is anticipated that over time, this initiative will assist users in discerning reliable accounts from those best avoided. In the near future, a glance at an unverified account or chat could prompt a second thought regarding its content.

Additional Features from Telegram

Credit: Telegram

In addition to the third-party verification, Telegram has unveiled a suite of fresh features:

• Message Search Filters: Now, when searching for messages, users can filter results in the “Chats” tab by “All Chats,” “Private Chats,” “Group Chats,” or “Channels” for easier navigation.

• Custom Emojis for Folder Names: Premium users now have the ability to incorporate custom emojis into their chat folder names, allowing more flexibility in how folders can be labeled.

• In-app QR Code Scanner: When utilizing the in-app camera on both iOS and Android devices, users can now scan QR codes directly.

• Collectible Gifts: Telegram’s “gifts” allow users to share artistic tokens with friends and showcase them on their profiles. Gifts can now be upgraded to “collectibles,” rendering them unique with distinct artwork, backgrounds, icons, and numbers. Users will have the option to share these collectibles or auction them as NFTs, currently featuring 20 gifts eligible for conversion and over 1,400 unique designs available.

• Reactions to Service Messages: Users can now react to service messages, which usually include notifications about group joinings, video calls, or gifts, making these notifications more interactive and engaging.