Telegram for PSU Students:
A Double-Edged Sword
Abdulaziz al nofaie
223211426
Prince Sultan University
22 April 2025
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In our modern world, students use many messaging apps to share ideas and learn together.
Telegram, started in 2013, lets people chat, share files, and join big groups across devices
(Eddy, 2022). It works on phones, tablets, and computers and keeps chats in the cloud so
users never lose messages (Eddy, 2022). But not all chats have strong privacy, and some
students feel their data could be exposed (Long, 2023). I believe PSU students can use
Telegram for group work, but they should keep using a more private app for personal chats
because Telegram’s features help learning but its security is not strong enough.
Telegram has many tools that help students work together. With channels and groups, PSU
students can make groups up to 200,000 people and share notes, links, polls, and videos
(Eddy, 2022). Bots can help create quizzes or send reminders about homework. The search
function also helps find past messages quickly. Because everything is saved in the cloud,
students do not worry about storage space or lost data. This ease of use makes Telegram very
useful for education and daily study tasks (Eddy, 2022).
On the other hand, Telegram’s normal chats do not use full end-to-end encryption by default.
Only Secret Chats have that level of security, but many users do not know or use them (Long,
2023). Normal messages go through Telegram’s servers and could be seen there if someone
had access. Telegram also keeps metadata like IP addresses, phone numbers, and device
details for up to 12 months (Long, 2023). For sensitive or private conversations, this can be
risky, especially when sharing grades or personal documents. PSU students should be careful
and not send passwords or health information in normal chats.
Even with these privacy issues, many students worldwide join Telegram for community and
study help. Eddy (2022) says that Telegram is a top choice for many education groups
because it lets people find new study partners and join topic channels. Also, Meineck (2020)
notes that Telegram channels cover many subjects, from language practice to coding tutorials,
which helps students learn outside the classroom. This large community lets PSU students
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connect with peers beyond campus and find free study guides. For busy students in different
time zones, these networks can be a helpful resource when no one else is online.
Some critics think the privacy risk makes Telegram not a good choice. Meineck (2020) warns
that Telegram’s open channels can be full of spam or wrong information, and students might
waste time or see bad advice. However, users can join only trusted groups and turn on Secret
Chats for private talk. Eddy (2022) explains that by choosing the right settings and verifying
group admins, students can avoid most spam and keep chats safe. In this way, Telegram still
offers value if used carefully and with clear rules.
In summary, Telegram gives PSU students strong tools for teamwork, big file sharing, and
wide communities for help. But because its normal chats are not fully private, it should not
replace more secure apps for all talks. Instead, students can use Telegram for group projects
and study channels while using a more secure messaging app for private messages. This
balanced approach lets them get the best of both worlds and improve their academic
experience.
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References
Eddy, M. (2022, April 4). Telegram review. PCMag.
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/telegram
Long, H. (2023, January 2). Telegram review 2023: NOT as private as you think. Restore
Privacy.
https://restoreprivacy.com/secure-encrypted-messaging-apps/telegram/
Meineck, S. (2020, November 5). Five reasons you should delete Telegram from your phone.
Vice.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgqqv8/five-reasons-you-should-delete-telegram-
from-your-phone
