TELEGRAM
TELEGRAM
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MINIMUM AGE: 16+
WHAT IS IT? Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app that supports private chats, voice and video calls, group chats, channels (like social feeds), and bots. It’s popular for its end-to-end encryption (in Secret Chats), speed, and customisation, but it’s also widely used for anonymous communication, unmoderated groups, and sharing controversial or illegal content. WHAT WE SAY: Use with extreme caution. Not suitable for children or teens. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Telegram is home to millions of public and private groups, many of which share pornographic, violent, or illegal content. There is no central moderation, and content like NSFW material, hate speech, or pirated media is common. 🔐 Encrypted Messaging Telegram offers “Secret Chats” with end-to-end encryption, giving users high privacy and security—ideal for private conversations. 🔐 Privacy Concerns Telegram collects sensitive data. This data may be shared with third parties or exposed through unsecured chat features. Fake profiles and bots are common, and real identities are easily compromised. 📱 Predatory Behaviour & Grooming Anyone can message you with just a username (no phone number required), making it easy for strangers to reach out, including scammers and predators. Telegram is frequently used for grooming or adult chat under fake identities. 🔓 No Parental Controls or Age Barriers Telegram doesn’t verify age, and no built-in parental controls exist. Teens can easily access adult content or connect with dangerous communities. 💬 Direct Messaging Anyone can DM you if they know your username. Messages can include explicit content, spam, or harassment. Telegram does not show phone numbers unless you allow it, but this doesn’t fully prevent risks. 📱 Cyberbullying & Harassment Due to Telegram’s open nature, users can receive unwanted messages, join toxic groups, or be targeted anonymously. There's no centralised moderation, and blocking/reporting can be limited in impact. ⚠️ Toxic Ideologies or Graphic Content Telegram’s lack of central moderation allows extremist groups, hate speech, and conspiracy theories to spread freely through public channels and private groups. Young users may be exposed to racist, misogynistic, violent, or radical political content, often disguised as memes or “truth bombs.” In some cases, these channels deliberately target teens with controversial or emotionally charged posts to recruit, radicalise, or manipulate. Additionally, graphic videos or images—showing violence, abuse, or gore—can be circulated without warnings, which can be disturbing or traumatising, especially for younger users. 👥 Large Groups & Channels Telegram allows up to 200,000 members in groups and unlimited followers in channels, making it popular for news, activism, or community organising. 🔓 Scams Scammers use Telegram to promote fake giveaways, phishing schemes, sextortion, fake jobs or romance scams and crypto scams. |
🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with Telegram's features and how they work. Knowing how the app works will help you guide your child effectively. 👨👧Parental supervision: Check their interactions and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Try to stay up-to-date on Internet trends and best practices. 📢Underage Accounts: Telegram might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles and targeting children and young people. 👥Manage friend requests: Teach your child only to accept friend requests from people they know in real life. 📷 Cover the Webcam When Not in Use Physically cover your camera when you're not ready to go live. Always be mindful of what’s visible in your background—it can reveal location clues. 🧠 Trust Your Instincts If something feels uncomfortable, it is uncomfortable. Leave the chat immediately and don’t engage with users who seem suspicious, aggressive, or inappropriate. 🖥️ Place Devices in Shared Spaces Keep internet-connected devices in living rooms or kitchens, not bedrooms. This makes risky behavior less likely and easier to notice. 🙋♀️Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. 🚨 Know the Signs of Trouble Watch for behaviour changes—like anxiety, secrecy, mood swings, or suddenly deleting apps. These can signal something inappropriate happened online. 💬Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. 
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