Parents
Staying Safe on Telegram
Keeping your child safe online
Setting privacy and safety controls
Telegram is a messaging app where your child can chat with friends and family, share photos or videos, and join group chats or channels. While it can be a convenient way to stay connected, there can be risks. Understanding the controls available can help you guide them towards a safer online experience.
How can messaging on Telegram affect your child?
Telegram allows both private chats and group chats or channels. Anyone who has your child’s phone number or username can contact them or add them to group chats or channels.
As a result, your child may receive messages that:
Come from strangers in group chats or channels
Contain rude, abusive or threatening language
Ask for personal information or photos
Attempt to take over their account by asking for login or verification codes
Because interactions can be anonymous, it may be harder for your child to deal with situations like harassment or suspicious requests. If messages start to make your child uncomfortable, it may be time to review their settings with them.
How can you protect your child on Telegram?
Telegram's Terms of Service do not specify a minimum age to use the platform. You can keep your child safe by reviewing settings together and agreeing on what safe usage looks like in your family.
Together, review the personal data visible on your child’s bio and manage who can interact with them. You and your child can decide on:
Whether to delete their username if they have one so that people can no longer find them in global search
Who can
See their phone number, last seen and online status, profile photos and bio
Call or message them
Add them to group chats and channels
Whether to enable anonymous forwarding so that others cannot identify their account through forwarded messages
Whether there are group chats or channels they should leave or users they should block
What else can you do when something does not feel right?
Sometimes, certain content or interactions may cause your child to feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
When that happens, let your child know that:
They do not have to respond or explain themselves
Saving screenshots can help if you or your child want to report harmful behaviour
Blocking or reporting is okay
Talking to you or a trusted adult can help them figure out next steps
Getting support early can prevent things from getting worse
Where can you learn more about Telegram’s safety tools?
Visit this resource to find out more about how to help your child stay safe on Telegram:
Telegram FAQ: Find out more about Telegram’s features, managing your child’s account and protecting their privacy
You can also explore other online safety resources on our website for more advice on keeping your child safe online.