Telegram gets WhatsApps message reactions with one major catch

Telegram has silently rolled out a major update to its app. This update brings a host of new functionalities to the platform, including a feature called Message Effects. Message Effects lets Telegram users react to react to messages in one-on-one chats with up to six free effects or emojis. This feature is quite similar to WhatsApp’s Message Reactions feature, which arrived on the platform back in 2022. Also Read: WhatsApp’s New iPhone Update Brings A Liquid Glass Design, But Also A Strange Mute Bug

Just like WhatsApp, Telegram users can send hearts, thumbs up, thumbs down or celebrations effects in one-on-one chats. They can also go beyond the available six effects and pick from the app’s vast library of effects. But there is one major catch. On WhatsApp, Message Reactions are used to react to a message shared by another WhatsApp user. So, for instance, if your best friend shared an old photo of yours with you in the chat, you could react to the photo with a heart emoji or any other emoji of your choice. However, in the case of Telegram, Message Effects can be used to react to the messages that you share in the app. This effect will play when the recipient opens the chat. Also Read: Now Apply For Delhi Govt Documents In WhatsApp Chat, No Office Visit Needed

“We added over 500 message effects that you can attach to any message you send in 1-on-1 chats,” Telegram founder Pavel Durov wrote in a chat. Also Read: WhatsApp For iOS Gets A Fresh Liquid Glass Makeover Inspired By iOS 26

There’s another caveat. Non-premium Telegram members can only pick from six free effects. Telegram Premium subscribers, on the other hand, will be able to pick effects from the app’s vast library.

Image: Telegram

Telegram gets more features

That said, Message Effects is not the only feature Telegram is getting. The app’s latest update brings a bunch of other features to the app. Here are the details:

Captions Above Media: This feature lets users move captions above the media. To use this feature, users need to select media in the attachment menu, then type a caption into the input field that appears, press and hold the Send arrow, and select ‘Move Caption Up’ to change its position.

Quick Actions for phone numbers: Telegram says that tapping a phone number in a chat opens a redesigned menu, which includes options to send a message, start a call, or add the number as a contact with just one more tap.

Hashtag Search: This feature lets users search for content in public chats using hashtags. “Global hashtag search only includes messages from big public channels. Messages from private chats are never shown,” Telegram wrote in its blog post.

Collapsible Quotes: This feature shows longer messages in a more compact manner by hiding a part of the message inside collapsible quote blocks.

Updated macOS app: Lastly, Telegram has updated its macOS app. The latest update brings dynamic backgrounds and stylish animations to voice and video calls to the company’s macOS-based app.