"Telegram launches third-party verification and new search filters."

Telegram has launched a new third-party account verification system in the latest update of its app, as announced by the company in a blog post. This system will allow public figures and businesses already verified by Telegram to verify others, such as employees within the organization. The company stated that "this decentralized platform for additional verification will help prevent fraud and reduce misinformation, providing a proactive solution that sets a new standard of security for social platforms."

To verify others, individuals or groups must first have an official bot verified by Telegram. Once obtained, they can apply to become third-party verifiers in the app. Additionally, they are required to have a unique icon (simple and minimalist in a solid color) that will appear alongside the names of the accounts they verify. Accounts verified in this manner will display the logo next to their name, and accessing their profile will provide a detailed explanation of their status and what it entails. The company emphasized that this type of verification is "completely independent" of its internal verification and provided more information in a guide.

Moreover, Telegram has incorporated new search filters that allow users to refine results exclusively for private chats, group chats, or channels. Custom emojis have also been added for folder names, reactions for service messages, and the option to convert gifts into NFTs.

On another note, the company announced that it has reached profitability for the first time, thanks to monetization features such as Premium subscriptions, advertising, and Telegram Stars. However, the company has faced recent challenges; in August of last year, the founder of the messaging app, Pavel Durov, was arrested on charges indicating that the company had not done enough to stop illegal activities on the platform.