Telegram CEO Pavel Durov took his time adding a Stories feature to the messaging app because integrating a new content format into a popular interface is a delicate task. This is how Georgy Lobushkin, once the press secretary for VKontakte and now a media manager, described the process in a recent interview for a Telegram channel. Lobushkin explained that the main hurdle was fitting a fresh storytelling option into the existing user experience without cluttering the app or hurting performance. The team faced a balancing act: introduce a compelling feature, ensure it feels native to the app, and keep the interface clean enough for everyday use.
A key point from the discussion was that Telegram’s behavior is heavily influenced by screen size. The messenger has to work reliably across a wide range of devices, from compact smartphones to larger modern screens. The media manager noted that when a critical mass of users adopted larger displays, it made sense to push forward with the Stories concept. The underlying idea is straightforward: richer video and camera experiences require more room to breathe, and bigger screens provide a better canvas for short, visual content. The Telegram team reportedly approached this with caution, aiming to preserve the app’s performance while expanding its storytelling capabilities.
Lobushkin emphasized that presentational quality matters. He said that users expect video content to be presented with clarity and polish. The team responded by designing a workflow that keeps video stories snappy, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. It is suggested that the developers did not want to dilute Telegram’s core messaging focus with flashy, distracting features. Instead, they aimed to enrich conversations by offering a lightweight, shareable format for quick moments, updates, and media snapshots that feel natural within the app’s existing rhythm.
There is a broader market context to this move. Stories have become a standard feature across major platforms in recent years. Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp have long integrated Stories as a quick way to capture attention and share moments. The format was popularized in the West by Snapchat, which introduced a storytelling approach that many networks later adopted or adapted to their own user interfaces. The ongoing adoption of Stories by Telegram reflects a trend toward modular, ephemeral content that complements traditional text messages with visual storytelling.
The public narrative around Telegram’s Stories also nudges toward expectations about user engagement. The feature is positioned as a tool to deepen immersion and extend time spent within the app. Critics and supporters alike are watching how this addition will influence the way users interact with friends, family, and communities. While some see it as a natural progression for an app built on speed and privacy, others are curious about how short-form video will affect bandwidth usage, content moderation, and the overall balance between text and multimedia conversations.
From a product development perspective, the plan for Stories reflects a strategic approach: test, refine, and scale based on real-world usage. The announcement on the evening of June 26 signaled confidence about a rollout timeline, with the capability described as ready to enable posting short video stories starting in early July. This staged cadence aligns with how many large apps introduce new features, offering a controlled window for user feedback and performance monitoring before a full public release.
The storytelling format is not new to the broader ecosystem. Before Telegram, platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, andWhatsApp had integrated similar features to varying degrees. The idea of short, looping or quickly consumable video content has evolved into a standard expectation for social platforms, and Telegram appears to be embracing the format as a way to keep conversations lively while preserving its reputation for efficiency and reliability.
In sum, Telegram’s approach to introducing Stories centers on user-friendly design, device readiness, and measured deployment. The company aims to provide a feature that enhances communication without disrupting the core messaging experience. By focusing on clean presentation, fast performance, and a familiar format that users already recognize, Telegram invites users to share moments in a new, visually engaging way while maintaining the app’s emphasis on speed and privacy across diverse devices and regions.