The Telegram messaging app, one of the most popular social media platforms in Ukraine and Russia, is expected to reach 1 billion active monthly users within a year, according to its founder in remarks published Tuesday.
1 billion Active Monthly Users
In a rare interview, Pavel Durov told US journalist Tucker Carlson that the Dubai-based free cloud-based app, which allows users to send and receive messages, calls, and other files, is spreading like a “forest fire”.
“We’ll probably cross 1 billion monthly active users within a year now,” Durov, who fully owns Telegram, told Tucker, according to the video interview posted on Tucker’s account on the X social media platform.
The app, which now has 900 million active users, aims to remain a “neutral platform” rather than a “player in geopolitics,” according to Durov.
The Russian-born entrepreneur claimed he fled Russia in 2014 due to government interference in the company he founded.
Telegram’s Competitors
One of Telegram’s main competitors, Meta Platforms (META.O), opens a new tab. WhatsApp currently has over 2 billion monthly active users.
In March, the Financial Times reported that Telegram would likely seek a listing in the United States once the company reached profitability.
Invasion of Ukraine
After Russia launched its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become an invaluable tool for both governments, as well as a go-to location for posting and accessing unfiltered information about the conflict.
Almost all major Russian and Ukrainian media outlets, government entities, and public figures have Telegram content channels.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy uses the app to broadcast his daily video addresses, while his armed forces warn of air raids and document battlefield developments.
The Kremlin announces President Vladimir Putin’s activities via Telegram, while Russia’s opposition rallies for support.
However, critics claim that the app has also been used to spread misinformation and manipulate people. A bill introduced in the Ukrainian parliament in March proposes stricter regulation of Telegram and other social networks.
The Kremlin warned Durov to be more vigilant after the messaging app was allegedly used to help recruit the gunmen who attacked a concert hall outside Moscow in March.
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