<metaproperty="og:description"content="Channels are a tool for broadcasting your public messages to large audiences. They offer a unique opportunity to reach people directly, sending a notification to their phones with each post.">
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<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/tour/channels"><strong>Telegram Channels</strong></a> are a powerful tool for <strong>broadcasting</strong> your messages to <strong>unlimited audiences</strong>. Since <ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/channels"><strong>2015</strong></a>, media organizations and public figures have been using them to reach readers, voters and fans – especially in countries where <strong>freedom of speech</strong> is limited.</p>
<p>Recently, we noticed a new type of channel gaining popularity: those created by <strong>Ministries of Health</strong> from around the world. <ahref="https://t.me/MyGovCoronaNewsdesk">India</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/cprckkm">Malaysia</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/MOHreport">Israel</a> and <ahref="https://t.me/corona/22">many other countries</a> now send news updates, warnings and tips via Telegram.</p>
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<p>To help users distinguish <strong>trustworthy sources</strong> from fake news, we're launching a streamlined <strong>verification</strong> process today.</p>
<p>If you have verified accounts on other social media services, simply contact our new <ahref="https://t.me/verifybot"><strong>@VerifyBot</strong></a> to get a <strong>verification badge</strong> for your <strong>channel</strong>, <strong>group</strong> or <strong>bot</strong>.</p>
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<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/verify">More about Telegram Verification Guidelines »</a></p>
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<h3><aclass="anchor"name="notifications-for-users"href="#notifications-for-users"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>Notifications for Users</h3>
<p>Information is the most powerful weapon in the fight for global health – at least until we get a vaccine. To do our part, we've been sending <strong>notifications</strong> to <strong>all users</strong> in countries that have official channels with updates about the virus, offering them to join.</p>
<p>We invite all health officials to <strong>collaborate</strong> on keeping people informed. If you work for your country's <em>Ministry of Health</em> and would like to promote its channel, please verify it first using <ahref="https://t.me/verifybot"><strong>@VerifyBot</strong></a>, then contact us at <em>corona@telegram.org</em>.</p>
<p>To make sure users find accurate and relevant information about the pandemic in their region, we've created a <ahref="https://t.me/corona">special channel</a> which shows up as the <strong>top result</strong> for all <strong>coronavirus-related keywords</strong> in Search. It contains a list of official news sources by country:</p>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="beyond-channels-groups-and-bots"href="#beyond-channels-groups-and-bots"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>Beyond Channels: Groups and Bots</h3>
<p>Telegram Channels are good for massive one-way broadcasts, but if you're looking for more interactive ways to inform people, try <strong>groups</strong> or <strong>bots</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Telegram Groups</strong> can have up to <strong>200,000 members</strong> each and offer powerful tools for maintaining order. For example, doctors from the Indian state of Karnataka are using <ahref="https://t.me/karnataka_Covid19">this public group</a> to answer questions from users.</p>
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<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/tour/groups">More about Telegram Groups »</a></p>
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<p><strong>Telegram Bots</strong> are third-party apps that you can interact with right from your chat list. You talk to them using buttons – and they reply with messages and media of all kinds. Bots are extremely flexible and can be used for anything from providing information to integrating with other web services.</p>
<p>For example, check out <ahref="https://t.me/quizbot">@QuizBot</a> which can create and run quizzes like <ahref="https://t.me/quizbot?start=GreatMinds">this one</a>.</p>
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<p><ahref="https://core.telegram.org/bots">More about Telegram Bots »</a></p>
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<h3><aclass="anchor"name="and-one-more-thing"href="#and-one-more-thing"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>And One More Thing</h3>
<p>We couldn't do anything about the shortage of masks in the real world, but our artists found a way to squeeze an inexhaustible supply into your app.</p>
<p>You can apply <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/Coronamask">masks from this set</a> to any pictures you send using Telegram's <ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/masks">Photo Editor</a>. Whether to raise awareness, maintain digital hygiene, or simply to hide your nose is up to you.</p>
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