Non-paying Telegram Users Can Now Access Stories Feature
Today, Telegram has made its Stories feature available to all users, after initially releasing it to Premium users last month. Similar to Facebook Messenger’s Stories, these stories are displayed as expandable bubbles above your ongoing conversation. However, Telegram’s version offers more customization options, allowing users to have precise control over who can view their uploaded posts and the duration for which they are visible. In a recent blog post, the company expressed that this update will enable users to get a glimpse into the exciting moments of others’ lives, rather than just seeing a few profile pictures.
Launched in connection with the messaging service’s 10th anniversary, Telegram describes Stories as “by far the most requested feature” in the company’s decade-long history. Its privacy controls include visibility settings for everyone, all contacts, selected contacts, or close friends.
Telegram stories also allow you to hide your messages from contacts you don’t want to see, and Premium users can choose between six, 12, 24 or 48 hours of visibility for new messages. Additionally, message creators can see a list of Telegram users who viewed their content. It also supports BeReal-style dual camera mode, which allows you to simultaneously share photos or videos captured by your phone’s front and rear sensors. The feature also includes reactions, so viewers can add a heart or choose from “hundreds” of other responses to posts.
Some of Stories’ more advanced controls are reserved for Premium subscribers ($5 per month). Perhaps most notably, posts from paying users appear first, giving them more exposure. Subscribers can also view other people’s stories stealthily, hiding all traces of their visit from the author. In addition, subscribers get the previously mentioned custom expiration options, permanent view history (see who viewed your posts even after they expire), the ability to save stories to the gallery, “10x longer” subtitles, and a larger number of daily stories (up to 100).
Telegram Stories is set to launch the service on iOS and Android apps today.
