WhatsApp is modernizing, but Telegram features are better

At the beginning of October, WhatsApp released the function of creating Channels to all users, which allows messages to be sent to an unlimited number of people in a “group”, something similar to what Telegram already offers.

Although Meta’s messaging application has announced different updates in recent months, competitors continue to gain ground among users, both due to features and advantages not yet implemented in the system. app by Mark Zuckerberg.

For comparison purposes, WhatsApp only launched the feature to allow people to “chat” with themselves in November 2022. Previously, if the objective was to save files, record calendar messages or test stickers and other features through the app, it was I need to create a group and then remove the added contacts to be “alone”.

Telegram, on the other hand, has been using saved message descriptions and allowing users to message themselves for years. Created in 2013 by Russian brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, the app messaging platform has more than 700 million active users and is the main threat to WhatsApp globally.

Rounding out the triad of most popular messaging apps, Signal is also an option for those who are not satisfied with WhatsApp’s features or its privacy policy. On the market since 2014, the platform is maintained by a non-profit organization owned by one of WhatsApp’s co-founders, Brian Acton.

Even though WhatsApp leads the pack in terms of popularity, with more than 2 billion users around the world, Telegram stands out for having more features and facilities.

For example, when a message is deleted on WhatsApp, a warning shows that that content has been deleted. On Telegram, it is possible to delete without the recipient knowing and without a stipulated period.

There are several other differences between the programs. In May 2021, the Power360 showed the main distinctions, at the time when WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy. At that moment, the app of the Durov brothers stood out in terms of functionality.

Now, after modernizing WhatsApp, the digital newspaper brings a new survey on the differences, after exploring the functionalities of each application and putting together infographics to explain their differences.

Ease of use

Now, both WhatsApp and Telegram allow the creation of channels, ideal for those who want to make messages reach a wide number of people. This tool works as a community in which only creators can submit content, without the possibility of conversations like in traditional groups.

O Power360 has channels on both platforms, where readers have access to exclusive reports from the digital newspaper and receive the main news of the day. Access Telegram here and WhatsApp here.

WhatsApp has a feature in groups where only administrators can send messages. At the appgroups are limited to 1,024 participants, on Signal to 1,000 users and on Telegram, to 200,000.

A positive point about WhatsApp and Signal is the possibility of making a group call –of up to 8 and 40 people in each application, respectively. Telegram allows video calls with just one person.

The 3 applications allow users to create and share stories, with images, videos and texts that automatically disappear after 24 hours. Telegram released the feature in August 2023.

Although Signal allows you to blur faces when sending photos, Telegram stands out when sending files. It is the only one that allows you to send large videos without cutting or compressing them.

You can forward a message to an unlimited number of people on Telegram, while WhatsApp and Signal only allow you to forward messages to up to 5 conversations at once.

Security

In terms of security, the 3 applications have features that help protect the user, such as end-to-end encrypted messages (when only the sender and recipient can access the content), authentication via Face ID or Touch ID and two-way verification. phases.

In the case of Telegram, end-to-end encryption is not enabled in default mode. You need to activate the feature in the program settings, in so-called secret chats. In standard conversations, encryption is client-server.

Professor Edson Mintsu Hung, from the Department of Electrical Engineering at UnB (University of Brasília), explains that, although it is important to know the encryption adopted by the application and whether the source code is open or closed, the most important thing is to adopt measures that protect the telephone device, instead of just focusing on the program.

“Many cases of message leaks are related to the hacking of the telephone device, and not just the application. Therefore, it is important to always keep the operating system updated, as well as adopt measures within apps, such as two-step verification”, says Hung.

Web versions

Telegram and WhatsApp allow desktop access through the browser or application installed on the computer. In the case of Signal, access is only via the desktop application.

Telegram was the only one that allowed multiple active sessions and access without the device being connected to Wi-Fi to use the web version. However, last year, WhatsApp began allowing access without the cell phone being connected to the internet.

In the case of Signal, the web session is automatically disconnected if the cell phone loses internet connection, in addition to only allowing one session at a time.

Popularity

According to a survey by Panorama Mobile Time/Opinion Box (full – PDF – 4 MB), carried out in August 2022, WhatsApp leads in terms of popularity. It is installed on 98% of Brazilian smartphones. Telegram is present on 45% of cell phones. Signal, by 12%.