Messaging apps like Telegram may pose a threat to your kids or teenagers because of the dangers that are within them. Telegram is known to have limited end-to-end encryption, which is only available in secret chats. It’s also a site full of misinformation and illegal content that may negatively affect your kid’s mental health.
In this article, we will share 16 teen-accessible apps like Telegram that you should be aware of as a parent. We’ll discuss their features and pros and cons.
Why stop using Telegram?
There are several reasons why you should stop using Telegram. Here are some of them:
- Privacy concerns
Since regular chats and group messages are not end-to-end encrypted, you may be worried about the safety of your personal information and messages. Your kid’s personal information could get into the wrong hands, and a cyberbully could use their private conversations to force them into doing bad things. - Misinformation and illegal content
Your kid may get exposed to illegal content such as pirated content, hate speech, and child trafficking material in various public Telegram channels. Such inappropriate content could interfere with their mental health or drag them into gangs. - Overwhelming group chats
Keeping up with the conversations may be difficult if your kid gets into multiple public channels. They may spend more time online, ignoring more important tasks, such as finishing homework or completing errands at home. - Past security breaches
Telegram has a history of security vulnerabilities among users. You may be worried about the safety of your kid’s personal information. Hackers may steal their identity and use it to do bad things. - User-interface
If you’re a parent who loves bright user interfaces, you may prefer telegram alternatives. Telegram has a simplistic, boring interface that may not appeal to kids as compared to other messaging apps. - Unauthorized access to personal data
Since Telegram claims to store all its users’ personal information on its servers, you may wonder how it uses the data. Could it sell it to governments and big businesses for profit?
16 teen-accessible apps like Telegram
We have listed 16 apps like Telegram for parents to know. Since there is no perfect app for teens to use, making the balance is the best strategy for parents.
Signal
Signal is an encrypted messaging service for instant messaging, voice, and video calls. It’s a great Telegram alternative if you’re looking for a messaging app with end-to-end encryption.
Features:
- It has a disappearing message feature like Snapchat.
- It offers top-of-the-range end-to-end encryption that even the company itself cannot access your chats.
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- Offers highly secure messaging
- It’s free and open-source.
Cons
- It doesn’t have any more features beyond normal basics.
- Not suitable for community building.
WhatsApp is a popular chatting app that allows you to create groups and stories and converse privately with friends. You can also have video and voice calls over an internet connection. It’s a good Telegram alternative if you’re looking for an app with a great user interface, security, and exciting features.
Features:
- Allows video and audio conversations
- Enables group conversations and live sessions
- Has end-to-end message encryption
- Has a status feature similar to Instagram stories and Snapchat disappearing messages.
Age ratings: At least 13 years old.
Pros
- Works over Wifi, saving you call charges for networks.
- You can share various media types, including video, text, and audio.
- Free.
Cons
It may reduce productivity due to distractions from statuses by saved contacts.
Discord
Discord is a forum builder with built-in live-streaming tools. It was created purposefully for gamers to show off their skills. You can chat with members of a community, and create other channels.
Features:
- It has monetization features
- You can customize member roles
- Has live event feature that allows you to go live and share your screen so members can see your act.
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- It’s free.
- Good for community building
- Compatible with multiple devices
Cons
- You can get exposed to inappropriate content
- User complaints about data privacy
- Some features may be challenging to new users.
Snapchat
Snapchat is another app like Telegram that you can use to share photos and videos. It’s popular among youngsters due to the numerous photo and video editing features it offers.
Features:
- It has snaps disappear after a set amount of time
- Rich in photo and video editing features
- Has group photo and video messaging
- Has geo filters to connect to nearby friends
Age ratings: At least 13 years old an above
Pros
- Useful to business owners who want to promote their products to users
- Exciting to youngsters due to the high number of content editing features.
- Free
Cons
- Upload stay only for up to 24 hours.
Instagram Direct
Instagram Direct is a messaging feature, offering users a private space to communicate with friends, family, and followers. With seamless integration into the Instagram platform, it helps users to stay connected and share moments with those they care about.
Features
- Send all types of messages directly
- React to messages with emojis to express your thoughts or feelings quickly.
- Keep conversations organized by threads.
- Share profile links to specific posts or profiles within your conversations
- See when your messages have been read by your friend.
Age ratings: At least 13
Pros
- Integrated into the Instagram app seamlessly.
- Encourages engagement with followers and friends through direct communication.
- Offers privacy option.
Cons
- Lacks some advanced features such as voice and video calls or file sharing.
- Difficult to managing message requests and keeping track of conversations.
Viber
Viber is a cross-messaging app with many features similar to Telegram. It is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS.
Features:
- Great for community building.
- Has end-to-end encryption so messaging is safe on the platform.
- Has phone connection so you can call mobile number around the world.
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- Has good security and privacy features
- Compatible with multiple devices
Cons
- Lacks monetization features
- Lacks comprehensive community features
Twitch
Twitch is a great platform for content creators looking to grow their audience. It started as a gaming platform but nowadays numerous other streamers have set up accounts there.
Features:
- Has many monetization features
- Has elaborate customization features compared to telegram
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- Its multiple monetization features enable streamers to make lots of money
Cons
- It lacks good chat and messaging features making it not a great place to build a community.
Skype
Skype is one of the oldest video calling platforms, having been around since 2011. It allows you to video call and chat over the internet.
Features
- Has video group chat and video conferencing.
- Has a paid land line calling feature.
- It has chat with extra features such as emojis and reactions.
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- Easy to sign up and use.
- Has stable video presentation.
Cons
- There may be privacy concerns.
Kik
Kik is a messaging app that allows users to send and receive text messages, photos, videos, sketches, and other content over the internet. It gains popularity due to its anonymity features.
Features
- Users can sign up for Kik without providing a phone number.
- A built-in browser to share content.
- supports chatbots to be engaged in different purposes.
Age ratings: At least 13
Pros
- Users can register without providing a phone number, offering a level of privacy.
- Use multimedia to communicate with people.
- built-in browser, users can share and explore web content.
Cons
- Has a potential misuse.
- has fewer security features.
Line
Line is a popular messaging app for its diverse features and user-friendly interface. It offers a comprehensive communication platform for individuals and groups.
Features
- Share updates, photos, and videos with friends on your personal timeline.
- Create group chats with up to 200 users.
- Enjoy a variety of games within the app.
Age ratings: At least 12
Pros
- Extensive sticker shop with thousands of unique stickers and emoji sets to choose from
- Is end-to-end encrypted for messaging.
- Available on multiple devices.
Cons
- its user base may not be as widespread as other messaging apps
Slack
Slack is a great telegram alternative for organizing co-working. It’s popular among teams that do remote work due to the ease of use and simplicity of features.
Features
- It has forum features
- It also has chat features
- Offers audio meetings feature
Age ratings: 16 years old
Pros
- Allows you to organize discussions into various channels.
- It is easy to use.
- You can add others to a thread by simply mentioning them.
Cons
- Does not have live event features.
- Does not offer monetization.
WeChat is an instant messaging app developed by Tencent, a Chinese company. It is the 5th most popular chatting app in the world, boasting over 1.3 billion monthly users.
Features
- You can send multiple media types across the platform.
- Has a Moments feature that allows you to create disappearing posts.
- Has third-party programs that allow users to book flights, buy movies, order food and more.
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- Has a user-friendly interface
- Its free
Cons
- Lacks end-end- encryption messaging making it unsafe if you value privacy.
Circle
The Circle app is built to be a community platform. It has features that encourage interactions such as live streaming, and online forums. Users can also share text and video content making it an app like Telegram.
Features
- Offers community branding features.
- You can live-stream.
- Compatible with Android and iOS.
Age ratings: 16 and above
Pros
- Privacy focused with end-end-message encryption.
- It has a user-friend interface.
Cons
- Not as popular as other chatting apps.
Flock
Flock is an app similar to Slack. It has basic forum features that allow you to organize group discussions. It has messaging and calling features that enable users to communicate.
Features
- Has community-building features like polls, voice notes, etc.
Age ratings: 16 years old and above
Pros
- It’s free.
Cons
- Lacks monetization features.
Discourse
Discourse is a telegram alternative that is suitable for users looking for a forum-like platform with a text-only option.
Features
- Has forum-like features similar to Quora or Reddit.
- Only has text options.
Age ratings: At least 13
Pros
- A cheap community-building platform.
Cons
- Lacks live streaming features.
- Lacks video calling tools.
Facebook Messenger
If you’re looking for a versatile messaging app, Facebook Messenger may be the right one. With seamless integration across devices, it’s the go-to platform for millions worldwide to connect, chat, and share moments effortlessly.
Features
- Send text, photos, videos, and voice messages instantly to friends and family.
- Create groups for family, friends, or colleagues, and chat with multiple people.
- Allows for virtual hangout spaces for video calls.
Age ratings: 13 years old
Pros
- People are familiar with Facebook.
- Simple user-interface.
Cons
- May have privacy concerns.
- May require more storage space.
Which is the best alternative for Telegram?
If you’re looking for apps like Telegram that are safer for your kid, here are some:
- It’s popular: Since whatsapp is popular, it means that many of your kids’ friends and relatives are using it. So they’ll be able to interact and communicate easily.
- End-to-end encryption: WhatsApp has an end-to-end encryption that ensures your kids messages are protected from hackers.
- Parental controls: Whatsapp allows you to block any person who you feel is extorting or harassing you.
Signal
- High level of security and privacy: Signal has invested heavily in the privacy of its users, so even it cannot access its users’ messages. Users have end-to-end encryption.
- Limited data collection: Signal collects little user data to help them improve the features of the platform. This ensures your kids’ data is safe.
- Minimalist interface: Signal has a simplistic interface, making it easy to understand and use.
Conclusion
Now that you know apps like Telegram that you can urge your kid to use, we hope you found the right one for you. If you want to be sure your kid is safe from online dangers like cyberbullying and theft of personal information, what if you used a parental control app? A parental control app like FlashGet Kids can help protect your kid from potential scams on apps like Telegram. With its alerts and notifications feature, you’ll get alerted when your kid accesses inappropriate content on Telegram or any other app.
FAQs
Which is the best unofficial Telegram app?
The main downside of installing third-party Telegram apps is that they can’t be assumed to be as secure and, hence follow the same level of security standards as the original Telegram app. Popular unofficial messengers include Mobotel and Plus Messenger.
Is Telegram really untraceable?
No, telegram messages cannot be tracked or traced. Be extra careful about what you send through that service. It gets transmitted directly through the encrypted tunnel so it is less likely for the messages to be intercepted by unauthorized eavesdroppers.
Are there 2 versions of Telegram?
Yes, there is a free and paid version. They differ in terms of features, including download speeds, file upload size, and an ad-free experience. The premium version comes with exclusive features such as superior chat support, custom unique stickers.
Can I use Telegram without phone number?
No. It is impossible to set up an account in Telegram because it does not have a phone number. This helps Telegram prevent the creation of fake accounts.
Can we use Telegram with email?
From October 2023, it is impossible to create telegram account using emails as a result of possible misuse of the account and security risks.
