<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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<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Star Giveaways and More</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">With today's update, groups and channels can use Telegram Stars as prizes in Giveaways. Also, any article you open in the Telegram Browser can now be converted to Instant View, making…</div>
<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Super Channels, Star Reactions and Subscriptions</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Today is Telegram's 11th anniversary. Meet Star Reactions and Star Subscriptions that let users support content creators, paid media for…</div>
<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Telegram Browser, Mini App Store, Gifting Stars and More</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Today's update brings a new in-app browser that supports multiple tabs and makes Web3 available to almost a billion users, a Mini App Store…</div>
<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Mini App Bar, Paid Media, Story Search & More</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Our June update adds a way to minimize mini apps into a compact bar, helps content creators monetize their channels with paid photos and…</div>
