Telegram announces new features for Christmas 2023

In its latest Christmas update, instant messaging app Telegram, which has over 800 million monthly active users, has introduced new and exciting features, for its users. The latest features include customizable Channel Appearance, the ability to share posts in Stories, expanded Premium gifting options, and much more. 

Channel owners can now customize their appearance as they gain levels through subscriber boosts or giveaways. Beyond message color, channel owners can choose a color and logo for their profile cover, set an emoji status, and display a wallpaper visible to all who open the channel. The emoji status offers many options, from animated snowmen to cryptic hotdogs. 

To customize your channel, open its profile and select Channel Settings > Appearance. 

The new feature allows messages from channels to be reposted in Stories. Users can move, resize, and decorate the reposted message. Reposts support all message types, including photos, files, and voice or video messages.

To repost a message, tap the Share Arrow next to the message and select 'Repost to Story'.   

In the Christmas spirit of giving, users can now gift Telegram Premium to multiple recipients simultaneously. A 'Gift Premium' section in Settings allows users to select up to 10 users and give them Telegram Premium with a single tap. Users with existing Premium subscriptions can save the gift to activate later or send it to a friend. 

Premium can also be gifted to individual users from their Profile > ⋮ / ⋯ > Gift Premium. 

Channels hosting giveaways can now set longer durations and specify additional prizes, providing a wider range of rewards from burritos to Bugattis. To enhance transparency, giveaway hosts can toggle 'Show Winners' to announce the winning accounts with a confetti-filled message. Telegram randomly selects winners and automatically distributes Telegram Premium gift codes. Channel admins are responsible for delivering any additional prizes they include. 

Users can now see who viewed and reacted to their stories, while channel admins gain detailed statistics on story performance. With the update, channel admins can view reactions to their stories, and both users and channels can see who reposted their stories. 

An innovative addition allows users to place photos from their gallery on top of stories. For added creativity, the background of images can be removed, offering users the opportunity to personalize their content. This feature requires iOS 17+ or Android 7+ with Google Play Services installed. 

To add a photo to a story, open the sticker panel in stories and tap the photo icon. Then select the photo, tap > in the menu and 'Cut Out' to erase its background. 

This Christmas update is Telegram's gift to its users, enhancing communication and expression on the platform. As the winter holidays approach, Telegram aims to continue spreading joy and delight through its innovative features.