ANUPPUR, India (GizTimes) — A recent study shows that Telegram has become a large digital system where bots play a major role in how people interact, share content, and even handle money. These bots are like small automated programs inside Telegram that respond to user commands and perform tasks without human effort.
The research is based on one of the largest datasets collected on Telegram. It includes over 100,000 channels, hundreds of millions of messages, and more than 32,000 bots. This gives a clear picture of how deeply bots are now built into the platform. Users can interact with these bots by sending simple commands like /start or /help, and the bots respond by offering services or information.
Many of these bots are designed for everyday use. They help manage group chats, share media, provide updates, and automate simple tasks. Some bots are also used for educational purposes, community coordination, or even emotional support. Over time, their role has expanded, and now they are used in more complex ways, especially in financial activities and AI-based services.
A large portion of bots on Telegram are focused on finance. The study found that about 34% of all bots fall into this category. These bots allow users to make payments, transfer money, and buy services. Many of them use cryptocurrencies, while others connect to Telegram’s own systems like in-app currency. Some bots also encourage users to invite others through referral programs, offering rewards such as tokens or premium features.
There are also bots that use artificial intelligence. These bots can translate text, read images, generate replies, or even create new images. The number of such AI-based bots has increased quickly, especially after new AI tools became popular in recent years. This shows how Telegram is adapting to new technology trends and integrating them into its platform.
However, the study clearly shows that not all bot activity is positive. A significant number of bots are linked to harmful and illegal activities. Many finance bots are involved in scams, such as fake investment offers, crypto fraud, or fake giveaways. Users are often tricked into sending money with the promise of high returns that never come.
There are also underground bots that support illegal markets. These bots are used to sell stolen personal data, pirated movies or software, fake accounts, and even hacking tools. Some bots are involved in creating and sharing harmful content, including manipulated or non-consensual images. These activities raise serious concerns about safety and misuse of technology.
One reason bots are widely used for such activities is their ability to automate everything. A single bot can handle thousands of users at the same time. It can send messages, collect payments, and provide instructions without any human involvement. This makes it easier for bad actors to run large operations quickly and at low cost.
The study also looked at how long bots stay active. On average, a bot lasts about 178 days, but many do not survive that long. Some, especially those linked to scams, may last only a few days before being removed or abandoned. In many cases, the same operators create new bots with slightly different names but similar functions to avoid detection.
Language use on Telegram bots is also interesting. While many bot descriptions are written in English, actual usage happens in many different languages, including Russian, Farsi, and Arabic. This shows that Telegram’s bot ecosystem is global and used by people in many regions for different purposes.
The number of bots has been increasing steadily over time. The study notes a sharp rise in AI-related bots since early 2023, which matches the growing popularity of AI tools worldwide. This suggests that Telegram bots are evolving along with broader technology trends.
Researchers believe that bots have become a core part of how Telegram works. Instead of focusing only on users or channels, they suggest that Telegram should pay more attention to bots when trying to control harmful content. Since bots are fewer in number but play a central role, taking action against them could be more effective in reducing misuse.
At the same time, the study makes it clear that bots are not only a problem. Many of them provide useful and important services that people rely on daily. They help manage online communities, share useful information, and make certain tasks easier and faster.
Telegram bots are shaping the platform in a big way. They are helping create new services and opportunities, but they are also being used for scams and illegal activities. The same technology that makes them useful also makes them easy to misuse, which is why they are now at the center of both innovation and concern on the platform.
Link to the Original Research: Click Here
