Telegram has released a new update introducing several features, with member tags being the most visible change for group chats.
In a blog post, Telegram explained that the feature allows users to add a short label next to their name in a group conversation, giving others quick context about who they are. Tags can represent roles, professions, areas of study, or other identifiers relevant to the group.
For example, someone might add a tag such as "Moderator," "Teacher," or "Designer."
Group administrators can decide whether members are allowed to create their own tags or whether only admins can assign them. Tags for administrators appear in a different color so their roles remain clearly visible in the conversation.
The idea is particularly useful in large groups or communities where participants may not know each other. Instead of relying solely on usernames or profile bios, the tag appears directly in the chat interface, making it easier to identify participants during discussions.
This adds a lightweight identity layer inside group chats without requiring users to open individual profiles.
Members in group chats can add a tag next to their name – to highlight roles and show their interests.
Admins choose whether group members are able to set their own tags or if only admins can assign them. #TelegramTips pic.twitter.com/ycd3JWyGDP— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) March 8, 2026
Another notable feature in the update is Disable Sharing for private chats.
This option allows users to prevent messages from being forwarded and restricts actions such as screenshots or saving media from the conversation. The setting is designed for situations where users want a stronger expectation of privacy in one-on-one chats. However, the feature is currently limited to Telegram Premium users.
Telegram also expanded its media tools.
Users can now add captions to GIFs directly from the GIF panel and send them as a single message. The caption can be placed above or below the GIF, similar to how captions work with images and videos. In addition, GIFs and stickers can now be edited within Telegram’s built-in media editor, allowing users to add text, drawings, emoji, or trim the animation length without leaving the app.
A related addition allows photos to be turned into stickers instantly. When viewing an image in the media viewer, users can convert it into a sticker with one tap, then edit it by cutting out objects or adding text and emoji before sending. The resulting sticker can be saved to favorites or added to a sticker pack.
Telegram also added improvements to polls. In polls with public voting, the app now shows timestamps indicating when each participant cast their vote, providing more transparency about the sequence of votes in group decisions or surveys.
On the developer and platform side, the update expands streaming responses for bots, allowing bots to display generated responses progressively rather than waiting for the entire message to finish. This capability was previously limited to certain AI bots but can now be enabled for any bot on the platform.
Telegram also introduced “Log In With Telegram,” a system that allows users to sign up or log in to third-party apps and websites using their Telegram account instead of creating a new password. Users can optionally share their phone number to simplify verification and receive service notifications directly through Telegram messages.
Another smaller addition is date and time formatting in messages. Users can send a formatted date or time that recipients can tap to add directly to their calendar or set reminders. The time automatically adjusts to each recipient’s local time zone, reducing confusion when coordinating events across different regions.
In the latest Telegram update:
Add a tag next to your name in groups.
Disable sharing in specific 1-on-1 chats.
Include captions with GIFs you send.
Use date formatting to create events at a specific time.
and much more https://t.co/zaT7uHPQPO— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) March 3, 2026
Overall, the update mixes several types of changes: identity features for groups (member tags), privacy controls for private chats, improvements to media editing tools, and new developer capabilities such as login integration and streaming bot responses. While the member tag system is the most visible change in group conversations, the broader update touches multiple parts of Telegram's messaging ecosystem.
A comparable feature has also recently appeared in WhatsApp group chats.
WhatsApp’s member tags allow users to assign themselves a custom label that describes their role or identity within a specific group. For instance, a person could appear as "Anna’s Dad" in a family group or "Goalkeeper" in a sports team chat. Unlike Telegram’s approach, the tag is group-specific, meaning users can use different tags in different chats without changing their profile name.
While both platforms now support labels that help identify people inside busy group chats, the implementations reflect different priorities.
Telegram's tags emphasize moderation and structured communities, with options for administrator control and visual differentiation of roles. WhatsApp's version is more focused on contextual identity, allowing users to define how they appear in each group depending on the relationship or activity within that chat.