Odaily News Telegram founder and CEO Durov posted that the platform has launched its first content creator competition, encouraging users to make videos that reveal how Telegram has long been ahead of the "cheap imitator" WhatsApp. He accused WhatsApp of launching a smear campaign and said he would no longer "repay evil with kindness." The event prize is $50,000 and the deadline is 23:59 on May 26 (Dubai time). Participants are required to make a short video in English within 180 seconds to show the fact that Telegram is ahead of WhatsApp in multiple functions. The selection criteria include clarity, visual impact, viral potential and meme value. The results will be announced in June 2025.