App dossier · Messaging
Telegram
Developer: Telegram FZ-LLC
- US App Store rating13+
- Google Play ratingMature 17+
Cloud messaging, large groups, public channels and bots. It is not simply a private family messenger. Ordinary cloud chats and optional device-specific Secret Chats have different security models, and public discovery can expose users to unfamiliar material.
Official store icon identified from the store listing artwork (opens in new tab). Icon is shown to identify the app; trademark belongs to Telegram FZ-LLC.
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The essentials
Age, contact, spending
Minimum age
The current terms require users in the EU, UK and Australia to be at least 18. Check the applicable terms elsewhere; the US store content badge is not a universal account-age rule.
Age check
Regional age estimation or verification can apply to content access. Telegram’s privacy policy describes age-related information and optional checks; do not assume every group member has verified identity.
Who can contact teens
People can approach through usernames, groups, links or phone-number settings. Bots and public channels add interaction outside personal contacts.
Disappearing content
Auto-delete timers and Secret Chat self-destruct options are available, but recipients can retain information in other ways. Cloud chats and Secret Chats are not interchangeable.
Public content
Public groups and channels can be widely accessible. A private conversation does not make a public username or all group activity private.
Spending
Premium, Stars and bot or channel purchases can create charges. External investment or money requests are not made safe by Telegram branding.
Store stats
By the numbers
US App Store
4.01 stars from 282,335 ratings, as of October 8, 2026. Apple listing (opens in new tab)
Google Play downloads
1B+ as of October 8, 2026. Google Play listing (opens in new tab)
Official controls
How to set them up
Review privacy and eligibility
Check the terms for your region first. In Settings → Privacy and Security, review phone number, contact requests, group invitations and reporting/blocking. No dedicated linked-parent supervision dashboard is established by these sources.
Official instructions → (opens in new tab)
Privacy
What gets shared
Ordinary cloud chats are not end-to-end encrypted like Secret Chats. Review phone-number visibility, group invites and forwarded-message links.
Safety
What parents should know
- Telegram’s official policy distinguishes cloud chats from Secret Chats; never describe the whole service as end-to-end encrypted.
- The terms’ 18+ rule in the EU, UK and Australia is important for families relying on older app guides. Do not bypass it with a false age.
Safeguards described here are reported by the company in its own materials (see Telegram: official safety, eligibility or parent guidance (opens in new tab)). They are not independent safety guarantees, and Lowkey has not tested them.
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Slang you will hear
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