Blocklist & Word Filter

Why Content Filtering Is Essential

Every Telegram group has content standards. Some groups do not allow promotional links. Some do not allow profanity. Some do not allow certain topics that tend to cause arguments. Without automated filtering, enforcing these standards requires constant vigilance from admins, who must read every message and manually delete violations. In active groups, this is impossible to sustain. Messages scroll by faster than any admin can review them, and violations slip through, normalizing the behavior and making the group feel unmoderated.

The blocklist and word filter system automates this enforcement. You define what content is not allowed, and the bot monitors every message in real time, deleting violations before other members see them. This creates a consistently clean environment where the content standards are visible and enforced, without requiring admins to watch the chat around the clock. The system is fast enough that most violations are removed within seconds of being posted, which means members rarely see the filtered content and the group maintains a professional atmosphere.

The Blocklist

The /blocklist command manages the list of blocked words and phrases. The /addblock command adds a word or phrase to the blocklist, and /rmblock removes one. When any member sends a message containing a blocked word or phrase, the bot automatically deletes the message and can optionally warn or mute the sender. The /blocklist command without arguments shows the current blocklist, giving you a complete view of what is filtered.

The blocklist supports both exact matches and partial matches. For exact matches, the entire word must match the blocked term. For partial matches, the blocked term can appear anywhere in the message. This flexibility lets you block specific words without accidentally filtering messages that happen to contain the same letters as part of a different word. You can also configure the blocklist to be case insensitive, so that variations in capitalization do not bypass the filter.

Content Type Locks

Beyond word filtering, BotWave can block entire content types. The /lock command locks a specific content type, preventing members from sending it. Available lock types include text, stickers, GIFs, animations, games, inline bots, polls, phone numbers, and more. When a content type is locked, any message of that type from a non admin member is automatically deleted.

Content type locks are useful for groups that want to maintain a specific format. A support group might lock stickers and GIFs to keep the chat focused on text based problem solving. A professional group might lock phone numbers to prevent members from sharing contact information publicly. A news group might lock polls to prevent unverified surveys from circulating. The ability to lock specific content types gives you fine grained control over what your group looks and feels like.

Link and Forward Blocking

The /locklinks command blocks all links in the chat, preventing members from posting URLs. This is one of the most commonly used filters, because link spam is one of the most common forms of abuse in Telegram groups. When link blocking is enabled, any message containing a URL is automatically deleted, and the sender can be warned or muted.

The /lockforward command blocks forwarded messages. Forwarded messages can be a vector for spreading misinformation, spam, or content from other groups that you do not want in your community. By blocking forwards, you ensure that all content in your group is original, not copied from elsewhere. The /lockforwardbot command specifically blocks forwards from other bots, which is useful for preventing bot generated spam from flooding your chat.

Auto Delete and Warn

When a filtered message is detected, the bot can take several actions depending on your configuration. The simplest action is to delete the message silently, removing the violation without any additional response. This is the least disruptive option and is suitable for groups where you want the filter to work invisibly.

For more visible enforcement, the bot can also warn the sender with a message explaining why their message was deleted. The /warnmode command configures what happens when a filtered message is detected: delete only, delete and warn, delete and mute, or delete and ban. This lets you calibrate the severity of the response to match the severity of the violation, creating a graduated enforcement system that is firm but fair.

Exempting Trusted Members

Not every member should be subject to content filtering. Admins are automatically exempt, but you may also want to exempt other trusted members such as verified users, contributors, or long time members. The /filterexempt command exempts a user from all content filtering, allowing their messages to pass through even if they contain blocked words or locked content types.

This exemption system is important because it lets you apply strict filtering to new and unproven members while giving trusted members more freedom. New members must prove themselves before they can post content that would otherwise be filtered, which creates a natural progression from restricted to trusted status and gives members an incentive to follow the rules and contribute positively to the community.

Available Commands