Telegram is a messaging app used by millions of people around the world. It helps users chat, share files, create groups, and even run online communities. Many love it for its speed, privacy, and freedom.

But in recent years, Telegram has also gained attention for the wrong reasons. While most people use it for good, some criminals and extremists have started using the app to spread hate, sell illegal goods, and plan harmful activities.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

  • What Telegram is and why people use it
  • How it’s being misused
  • What are the risks?
  • And how can we make the internet safer for everyone?

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a free app that lets people:

  • Send text messages and voice notes
  • Make voice and video calls
  • Share photos, videos, and documents
  • Create large public or private groups and channels

One of Telegram’s biggest features is privacy. You can:

  • Hide your phone number
  • Use end-to-end encryption in “Secret Chats”
  • Send messages that delete themselves
  • Create channels with thousands of anonymous followers

This strong privacy is great for many journalists, activists, teachers, or everyday people who just want to avoid spam.

But sadly, it’s also made Telegram a hiding place for bad actors.

How Is Telegram Being Misused?

Here are a few ways criminals and extremists are using Telegram:

1. Spreading Hate and Violence

Extremist groups sometimes create channels to spread dangerous ideas, recruit followers, and plan violent acts. These messages can be hard to stop because they’re often private or coded.

2. Selling Illegal Goods

Some channels have been caught selling:

  • Drugs
  • Stolen credit cards
  • Fake passports or IDs
  • Weapons

Buyers and sellers often use hidden chats and fake names, making it difficult for police to track them.

3. Sharing Harmful Content

There have been cases where illegal or abusive content (like child exploitation material or videos promoting terrorism) has been found on Telegram. Even though Telegram removes such content when reported, bad actors often return under new names.

4. Spreading Fake News and Scams

Some people use Telegram to spread false information, especially during elections or public emergencies. Others run scam pages asking for money or promising fake jobs, prizes, or investment returns.

Why Telegram?

You might ask — why do criminals choose Telegram over other apps?

Here’s why:

  • It’s easy to use and free
  • It doesn’t ask for much personal information
  • Groups and channels can grow very large and very fast
  • Admins can delete messages and users anytime
  • Messages can vanish (self-destruct)
  • Some features help people hide

Telegram says it supports free speech and fights harmful content. But because the app focuses on privacy and freedom, it becomes hard to monitor or control what’s happening behind closed chats.

What Are the Risks to Society?

When apps like Telegram are misused:

  • Young people may fall into the wrong hands
  • Violent attacks can be planned in secret
  • Illegal products may become easier to access
  • People can be scammed or misled with fake information
  • Law enforcement struggles to stop online crime

This creates a dangerous space where rules are hard to apply, and people can get hurt.

What Is Telegram Doing About It?

Telegram has taken some steps:

  • Removing terrorist content when reported
  • Banning public hate groups
  • Working with watchdog organizations

But critics say it’s not enough, especially since many harmful activities happen in private or hidden groups. Unlike apps like Facebook or X (Twitter), Telegram has fewer moderation tools and doesn’t use as much AI to catch bad content.

What Can Be Done?

The goal isn’t to ban apps like Telegram — it’s to make them safer. Here’s how that could happen:

Better Reporting Tools

Make it easy for users to report abuse, scams, or dangerous groups.

Stronger Moderation

Hire more people and use smart tools to scan public groups for illegal activity.

Help for Law Enforcement

Work more closely with governments (while respecting people’s privacy rights) to prevent crime.

Educating the Public

People need to know the risks. Parents, students, teachers — everyone should learn how to stay safe online.

What Can YOU Do as a User?

You can help make the internet safer:

  • Don’t join or share harmful groups
  • Report anything suspicious
  • Talk to kids and young users about risks
  • Use strong privacy settings
  • Don’t trust unknown links or offers

Apps can be powerful tools, but how we use them matters.

Conclusion

Telegram is a great platform for connecting, learning, and sharing. But like any powerful tool, it can be used for both good and bad.

While Telegram’s privacy features help protect free speech, they’ve also opened the door to criminals and extremists who want to hide their actions. The solution isn’t fear — it’s awareness and action.

We need tech companies, governments, and everyday people to work together. Only then can we enjoy the benefits of freedom and privacy, without letting crime grow in the shadows.

Let’s build a smarter, safer internet — one click at a time.