Telegram channel
A one-way broadcast in Telegram: admins post, an unlimited number of subscribers read but cannot reply (unless a discussion group is attached). Distinct from groups (everyone can write). A central tool for news, propaganda, and communities.
Scale: channels can have millions of subscribers. Verification and a view counter per post. Geopolitical role: huge in the Russia/Ukraine war (both official and OSINT channels), Iranian protests, crypto communities. Attach a discussion group → subscribers can comment. Criticism: minimal moderation → extremism, disinformation, and piracy thrive. Distinct from groups (max 200,000 members, two-way) and bots. Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France in 2024 partly over moderation on the platform.