Telegram CEO Pavel Durov launches $50K viral video contest to expose WhatsApp’s ‘cheap copycat’ moves

In the highly competitive landscape of instant messaging platforms, Telegram, a popular messaging app founded by Pavel Durov, has initiated a bold new contest aimed at content creators. The competition offers a prize pool of $50,000 for a viral video that underscores Telegram’s claim of being the original innovator in messaging technology — years ahead of its competitor WhatsApp, which Telegram labels a “cheap copycat.”

This initiative marks Telegram’s first contest designed specifically for content creators, signaling the company’s increased focus on leveraging user-generated content to raise awareness about its platform’s unique features and capabilities. The contest was announced on May 19, 2025, by Pavel Durov himself, and aims to counteract alleged smear campaigns against Telegram by WhatsApp.