Telegram’s User Base Approaches the One-Billion Milestone
In the dynamic landscape of encrypted messaging services, Telegram has emerged as a formidable player, amassing a staggering 900 million active users. The company’s founder, Pavel Durov, anticipates crossing the threshold of one billion users within the next twelve months.
During an interaction with Tucker Carlson, a figure known for his right-wing commentary in the United States, Durov shed light on the app’s accelerating growth. “Telegraph is spreading like a forest fire. Two-and-a-half million users sign up every day,” he remarked, attributing the surge to users’ appreciation for privacy, freedom, and independence offered by the platform.
Telegram, which operates from Dubai, has carved out a niche for itself as a privacy-centric alternative, steering clear of the practices adopted by US-owned counterparts that have come under fire for monetizing personal data. The company has taken a firm stance by pledging not to disclose user information.
The genesis of Telegram was Durov’s response to the pressures he faced from Russian authorities while at the helm of VK, a social network he established in Russia. Post the sale of VK and his subsequent departure from Russia in 2014, Durov explored various global cities for his next venture, eventually selecting Dubai for its conducive business climate and neutrality.
Telegram’s UAE base has provided a strategic advantage, insulating the company from the moderation laws that are increasingly influencing Western platforms to act against illegal content.
Nonetheless, Telegram’s expansive group capacity, allowing up to 200,000 members, has attracted scrutiny. Critics argue that this feature potentially facilitates the rapid dissemination of misinformation and extremist content. In contrast, WhatsApp, a rival service, implemented global restrictions on message forwarding in 2019 to mitigate the spread of false information after incidents of violence in India were linked to the platform.
