Snapchat revolutionised social media in 2013 when it introduced “Stories,” a feature that allowed users to share photos and videos that would vanish after 24 hours. Ephemeral content quickly gained traction, prompting other platforms to follow suit. In the years since, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp have all launched their own versions of Stories.
Telegram, a popular messaging app, is now on board with Stories.Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, recently announced the impending arrival of Stories on the platform, recognising user demand.
Telegram’s Approach to Stories: While Stories have become a common feature across various platforms, Telegram decided to introduce them based on user requests over the years. Telegram has incorporated several distinguishing features into its Stories offering to ensure a unique experience.
- Privacy Control: Telegram users will have precise control over who can view their stories. They can choose between options like making them visible to everyone, only contacts (with exceptions), selected contacts, or a customized list of close friends. This granular control allows users to tailor their Story’s audience according to their preferences.
- Compact User Interface: To optimize space within the app, Telegram has placed Stories in an expandable section at the top of the chat list. This design ensures easy access without compromising valuable screen real estate.
- Flexibility: In addition to a compact UI, Telegram allows users to hide Stories posted by any contact, effectively moving them to a separate ‘Hidden’ list in the Contacts section. This feature grants users more control over the content they wish to see on their main screen.
- Captions and Tagging: Telegram Stories offer a range of powerful photo and video editing tools. Users can enhance their content with captions to provide additional context, links, or tags to other individuals. This functionality enriches the storytelling experience and fosters deeper connections.
- Dual Camera Support: Telegram capitalizes on the success of its Video Messages feature by incorporating the option to post photos and videos taken simultaneously from the front and rear cameras. This dual-camera support enables users to express themselves creatively and capture moments from multiple perspectives.
- Optional Ephemerality: Users can choose the lifespan of their stories, with options ranging from 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours. Alternatively, stories can be permanently displayed on the user’s profile page, with individual privacy settings for each story. This versatility empowers users to customize their content’s visibility and duration.
The addition of Stories to Telegram has several advantages and potential consequences for users and the platform itself. Saving stories to profile pages improves Telegram profiles’ informational and visual appeal, allowing users to explore more content from their close contacts and gain valuable insights from group or channel interactions.
Furthermore, the ability to repost messages from channels to stories increases exposure, making it easier for channels to go viral and gain more subscribers. This feature expands opportunities for content creators while also increasing engagement in the Telegram community.
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, stated that after internal testing, even sceptics within the Telegram team came to appreciate the value of Stories. Telegram Stories will be available in early July, following the completion of the final testing phase. Durov believes that this exciting development will usher in a new era for Telegram, increasing its sociability and enjoyment to new heights.
Users can expect a new and engaging way to share their experiences with friends and connections as Telegram joins the ranks of social media platforms that support Stories. Are you excited to try Telegram Stories? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
