Understanding Telegram's Contacts and Private Chat Functionality

Conclusion: Telegram doesn't have a "friends" feature; instead, communication occurs through contacts, groups, and channels. Understanding Telegram's contact management and private chat functionality can help you better protect your privacy and enhance your user experience.

Telegram's Contacts

• The Concept of Contacts Telegram doesn't operate with the concept of 'friends,' so there's no 'add friend' function. Users interact through 'contacts.'

• One-way and Two-way Contacts Telegram contacts are categorised as either one-way or two-way.

  • Adding a one-way contact: Tap on the other person's profile and select 'Add Contact'. At this point, they won't receive a notification and won't know you've added them to your contact list.
  • Becoming a two-way contact: A two-way connection is only established when the other person also adds you as a contact.

• Privacy Settings When adding a contact, make sure to uncheck "Share My Phone Number." If you don't uncheck it, your phone number will be visible to the other person.

  • If you've already added someone as a contact and had this option checked, you can stop sharing your phone number by going to 'Settings → Privacy → Phone Number → Always Allow'.
  • For easier management, it's recommended to add frequently contacted individuals as contacts; you can also modify their name or add notes.

• Notification Mechanism After you add someone as a contact, they won't receive any prompts or notifications, so they won't know you've added them.

Telegram's Private Chat Functionality

• Private Chats and Encrypted Conversations Telegram allows users to send direct messages and engage in encrypted conversations without needing to add contacts. Currently, there are no prohibitions preventing other users from initiating a private chat with you.

• Methods for Sending Private Chats Tap on the other person's profile and select 'Send Message' to send a direct message. If you see a prompt stating, "You can currently only send messages to two-way contacts," there might be two reasons:

  1. Your phone number is associated with the +86 country code (China). It's recommended to contact official Telegram support for unlocking.
  2. Your account might be subject to official restrictions.

• Using Links and Usernames Users can send private messages by using the other person's link or by searching for their username, which further enhances the convenience of private messaging.

By understanding Telegram's contact management and private chat functionality, users can better protect their personal privacy and improve their usage efficiency.