All online apps and sites seem to track people’s activity and status. In some cases this may be convenient, but most of the time it is intrusive and a violation of your privacy. Basically, there is no privacy anymore.
If you are online, you are clearly visible to almost everyone. The same goes for Telegram; a great new messaging app. But by default, all your connections can see your online status. This can be a bit annoying and unpleasant.
Read on to find out how to hide your online status on Telegram on all major platforms (Android, iOS, Mac, etc.).
How online status works in general
Telegram is becoming a very popular messaging application. It’s incredibly fast and secure, which is attractive to many people. Since Facebook had many privacy fiascos, including leaking of personal information, etc., many users decided to stop using it.
Some people still use Messenger, but ditching Facebook entirely seems like a smarter decision. Instagram has the same problems as Facebook, and the same goes for WhatsApp. Basically, all of these apps are owned by Facebook and therefore have the same problems.
Telegram picked up a couple of things from these big players. Your online status works the same way as on any other social media platform. As long as you are connected to Telegram, your connections will be able to see that you are online.
This could easily be compared to bullying because, in fact, modern technology is doing just that. We all choose not to pay too much attention to it, but if you think about it a little, it turns out to be quite unpleasant and unnecessary.
How online status works on Telegram
You can easily avoid this and change your online status settings on Telegram. If you do this, instead of showing your online status to all your connections, Telegram will show them that you were recently active.
Recently active status can mean several things and is not as accurate as the alternative. You should know that this happens both ways, which means that if you deactivate your online status, you will also not be able to see the online status of your contacts.
This seems fair. If you want people to mind their business, then mind yours too. If you want to have a real-time conversation, phone calls seem like a better option. Texting is a good alternative, the person will respond when they have time. The same goes for messaging on Telegram.
People have really unrealistic expectations and expect an immediate response. If you are a busy person or value your privacy, consider deactivating your online status.
How to hide online status on Telegram
You can use Telegram on many operating systems, including Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, etc. Make sure you download the latest version. application version From the official Telegram website. When you’re ready, follow the steps to hide your online status on Telegram on iOS and Android devices:
- Launch Telegram on your smartphone or tablet.
- Tap the hamburger icon in the top left corner of the screen (three horizontal lines).
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Then choose Privacy and Security.
- Select the Last Seen & Online option.
- Choose from Everyone, My Contacts, and Nobody. We suggest selecting Nobody. Confirm the change by selecting the check mark icon.
- Confirm the message with OK.
How to hide online status on PC
Follow the steps to change your online status on Telegram if you are using a Mac or Windows computer:
- Open the Telegram application.
- Click on the hamburger menu.
- Select Settings from the list of options.
- Then, choose Last Seen & Online (Privacy & Security tab).
- Select Nobody (or my contacts).
- Click Save.
- Confirm the message with Continue.
This is how to deactivate online status on Telegram. As mentioned above, this will go both ways. Therefore, if you choose Nobody, you will not see anyone’s connection status on Telegram, but you will also remain hidden.
If you only select My Contacts, you’ll still be able to keep track of who’s online. Personally, I don’t think that ability is worth the price of reducing your online privacy. Maybe that suits you, but each to their own.
Stay under the radar
Online privacy is a myth. I don’t want to sound paranoid, but you should be careful when sharing personal information online. Your online status is a great indication of your current activity. Sure, it’s great to have your friends and family know where you are at all times, but that information shouldn’t be given to strangers.
People can easily track your IP and find your real physical location if you are careless. It is better to disable your online status on all apps and social networks. You can go one step further and use a VPN service to ensure your privacy.
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