What a bot can and can't do
What it is
A bot is a Telegram account that needs no phone number. A program on its owner's server runs it through the Bot API, and instead of "last seen" it shows a "bot" label. Bots answer messages, show buttons, open Mini Apps, take payments in Stars, work inline in any chat and manage groups and channels where they are admins.
How to do it
Before you rely on a bot:
- Open its chat: the "What can this bot do?" box shows its description. Tap Start (START on Android).
- Tap Menu next to the message field, or type /, to see its commands.
- Add it to a group: its profile › Add to Group (iOS: Add to Group or Channel).
- In the group's member list, the line under the bot says "has access to messages" or "has no access to messages".
- To stop it: its profile › Block Bot.
Watch out
- A bot can't write first: a person has to message it or add it to a group.
- Treat any bot as a stranger, Telegram says: it sees your name, username, photos and messages to it, not your phone number unless you share it. Never give it passwords or Telegram codes.
- Limits: about 30 messages per second in total, one per second per chat, 20 per minute per group. Files: up to 50 MB sent, 20 MB downloaded.
- Bots don't see other bots' messages by default, and updates wait for a bot at most 24 hours.
With Gem
@gembot messages only people who allowed your project to message them, in their language, with a Stop button on every message.
Sources
- https://core.telegram.org/bots
- https://core.telegram.org/bots/faq
- https://telegram.org/faq#q-are-bots-safe