Telegram phone question

[MS-DOS]

So I've just got a new phone number for Whatsapp business etc contacts and I also have a Telegram account with this phone number now. I haven't added anyone on Whatsapp or Telegram yet, the accounts are empty.

 

I have set it all to "Nobody" on Telegram, but the thing is, in the option for "Who can find me by my number", there is 2 options:

-"Everybody"

-"My contacts"

 

For some dumb reason, they decided to not add a "Nobody" option here. But im just not sure what this means.

 

If I add now someone to Whatsapp, since they can see your number on Whatsapp, then this person could find my Telegram account because they have my phone number? Or I would need to add this person on "Contacts" on the Telegram app?

 

But then again, if they see my phone number on Whatsapp, then that just means that they could go on their Telegram and find my account by adding it to their "Contacts" section?

 

They can see what groups I joined or something?

 

What is going on? This is ridiculous. Is there no way around this? What sort of information could they see beside my username?

[GOTSpectrum]

My first question would be... What the F are you doing on telegram that has you so concerned... 
 

But my understanding is you need to have them in your contacts for it to get pushed to them. But they can indeed search you with your number and add you that way 

[MS-DOS]

I don't want random people from work that I don't know to add me on Telegram, simple concept. This app sucks then.

[NinJake]

Have you looked into Signal?

[Timme]

1 hour ago, MS-DOS said:

I don't want random people from work that I don't know to add me on Telegram, simple concept. This app sucks then.

You can use a virtual number for 1-time account activation, then you can ditch it.

[MS-DOS]

On 3/28/2025 at 10:06 PM, Timme said:

You can use a virtual number for 1-time account activation, then you can ditch it.

No virtual numbers in EU.