Telegram's growth, feature rollouts, and political uses (2013–2023)

1. Telegram launches as privacy-focused messenger

   Aug 1, 2013Labels: Pavel Durov, Nikolai Durov

   • Telegram Wiki
   • TechCrunch

2. Secret Chats formalize end-to-end encryption option

   Oct 1, 2013Labels: Secret Chats

   • Telegram Core
   • Telegram Core

3. Bot platform launches, enabling automated accounts

   Jun 24, 2015Labels: Bot API

   • Telegram Core

4. Channels introduce one-to-many broadcasting

   Sep 22, 2015Labels: Channels

   • Telegram Evolution
   • AndroidPolice

5. Telegram reports 100 million monthly active users

   Feb 23, 2016Labels: Telegram

   • TechCrunch

6. Supergroups expand to 5,000 members

   Mar 14, 2016Labels: Supergroups

   • Gadgets360

7. Voice calls roll out, extending beyond text

   Mar 30, 2017Labels: Voice calls

   • AndroidPolice

8. Russia begins blocking Telegram nationwide

   Apr 16, 2018Labels: Russia

   • Transparency
   • Guardian

9. Telegram Passport introduces in-app ID sharing

   Jul 26, 2018Labels: Telegram Passport

   • Telegram Core
   • Medianama

10. Hong Kong protest period brings major DDoS attack

    Jun 13, 2019Labels: Hong Kong

    • Axios

11. SEC sues over token sale tied to TON

    Oct 11, 2019Labels: SEC, TON

    • SEC Release

12. Telegram announces 400 million monthly active users

    Apr 24, 2020Labels: Telegram

    • TechCrunch

13. Russia lifts official Telegram ban

    Jun 19, 2020Labels: Russia

    • Telegram Block

14. Telegram settles SEC case and abandons Gram launch

    Jun 26, 2020Labels: SEC settlement

    • SEC Release

15. Belarus protests highlight Telegram’s organizing role

    Aug 1, 2020Labels: Belarus protests, NEXTA Live

    • Washington Post
    • RFE RL

16. End-to-end encrypted video calling becomes supported

    Aug 14, 2020Labels: E2E video

    • Telegram Core

17. WhatsApp policy backlash coincides with Telegram surge

    Jan 13, 2021Labels: WhatsApp, Telegram

    • Economic Times
    • AA

18. Telegram Premium launches to support monetization

    Jun 19, 2022Labels: Telegram Premium

    • Yahoo Tech

19. Stories feature debuts, pushing toward social-media format

    Jul 1, 2023Labels: Stories

    • Telegram Wiki

20. Telegram’s 2013–2023 arc: Mass adoption and political centrality

    Dec 31, 2023Labels: Telegram

    • Telegram Evolution
    • TechCrunch