In my circles, it became popular during the pandemic and a number 1 source of misinformation, with an unnerving amount of obvious links to Russian propaganda- covid related, yes.

So after seeing the extreme antivaxxers join the telegram train, and seeing how gullible acquaintances got "tips" from their telegram groups, I just couldn't take the app seriously. I understand logically maybe the app itself is better than WhatsApp, I understand this may be just my personal experience and that there was just as much trash on WhatsApp. But having my sane contacts using WhatsApp already and my family on Signal, I never saw the need to switch.

while I have used telegram in the past, the association of it being used heavily by cookers and q idiots really just put a bad taste in my mouth

People don’t care what’s better. Most people won’t try anything new if the existing stuff is not severely broken.

Here in Costa Rica people are used to using WhatsApp. Even after the terms controversy they kept on using it

I actually know more people who use Signal and Line than people who use Telegram; out of all my contacts, there is only one person who has telegram installed on their phone, and that's a guy I haven't contacted in years.

Personally I prefer to use Signal whenever possible, and I got a bunch of my friends to install it.

Signal is much better than Telegram in terms of privacy. Do people find Telegram more convenient?

Personally I prefer signal, and that's the problem isn't it.

I don't know that anyone I know uses either.

Depends on which of your social groups uses WhatsApp or not. If your IRL friends are in IT they might prefer to use Signal because of their knowledge and understanding; but the average person will use the app that everyone else has as well.

Cause people are too lazy to download a better app.

Telegram is my fav messenger too (yes I know Signal is great too)

Because I'd rather be spied on by the USA than Russia.

Not being spied on is not an option if you want to stay in contact with people.

Because whatsapp was huge way before telegram came around and most people dont want to switch. A message platform is only useful if most people you know use it as well.