Telegram introduces new features and updates in January 2024

Instant messaging app Telegram has unveiled a series of new and innovative features for its users. The latest features include One-Time Voice and Video Messages, Pause and Resume Recording, One-Way Last Seen and Read Times, Read Time in Private Chats and Private Message Permissions.     

One-Time Voice and Video Messages: 

To provide users with more control over their shared media, Telegram has introduced the view-once setting for voice and video messages. Once played, these messages are automatically deleted, ensuring a heightened level of privacy and security. 

Pause and Resume Recording: 

Users can now enjoy greater flexibility while recording voice and video messages. The new feature allows for the convenient pause and resume of recordings, eliminating the need to start over and providing a seamless experience. 

Read Time in Private Chats: 

In one-on-one chats, users can now track the exact time their messages are opened, adding a timestamp to enhance communication dynamics. Telegram has also introduced granular privacy settings, allowing users to configure who can view their read times. 

One-Way Last Seen and Read Times: 

With an emphasis on user privacy, Telegram has introduced One-Way Last Seen and Read Times. Users who choose to hide their read time won't have access to read times from others. Telegram Premium users can further customize their experience by hiding their read time while still viewing the read times of users who share this information. 

Private Message Permissions: 

Telegram Premium users can now choose who can send them messages, choosing from options such as Everyone, My Contacts, and Premium Users. This feature provides an additional layer of control over communication, ensuring a tailored messaging experience. When enabled, users who aren't contacts or don't have Premium are unable to initiate chats. However, they retain the ability to respond if the user with enabled settings initiates the conversation.