Title: Understanding Telegram's People Nearby and Groups Feature

Conclusion: Telegram's 'People Nearby' and 'Groups Nearby' features, while once available, were removed due to misuse. Users can still interact with people and groups around them through other methods, but must pay attention to privacy settings.

Telegram's People Nearby and Groups Feature

Telegram previously offered the 'People Nearby' feature, but this functionality has since been removed, and users can no longer find this menu within the client application. This change occurred because the feature was misused by malicious actors, leading to a large number of users being bulk-added through virtual location spoofing.

Where Was Telegram's People Nearby and Groups Feature Located?

• iOS Client: Tap 'Contacts' on the bottom bar → Select 'People Nearby and Groups'
• Android Client: Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner of the main interface → Select 'People Nearby and Groups'

Why Can't I See 'People Nearby and Groups' in the iOS Client's 'Contacts' Interface?

If your contact list is empty, 'People Nearby and Groups' will not be displayed by default. Simply add one contact (make sure to uncheck 'Share My Phone' when adding) to view this feature. Additionally, granting 'Contacts access permission' could also make it appear, but it is not recommended to enable this permission for privacy protection.

What are the Reasons for 'People Nearby' and 'Groups Nearby' Appearing Empty?

• People Nearby: By default, it is hidden. You need to tap 'Make Myself Visible' to appear. Only when you enable this option will others see you; similarly, you will only see others if they have enabled this option.
• Groups Nearby: If no one nearby has created a group, this feature will appear empty.

How to Create a Location-Based Group?

Below 'People Nearby and Groups', you can find the 'Create Local Group' option. Groups created using this feature will include location information (e.g., group name@notionso), and this information cannot be removed. It's important to note that public groups with location information will not appear in Telegram's global search, and location information cannot be added to already created groups.

By understanding these features of Telegram, users can better utilise the platform for social interaction, while also being mindful of protecting personal privacy.