RemoveURLsBot: Keep Links Out of Chat

You open your group and find ten messages in a row with the same link to "easy money". Every admin knows the sight. RemoveURLsBot answers it with one simple idea: no links from regular members.

The bot deletes every message containing a link if it was not written by an administrator. Admins can still post links. In the catalog it has about 392 thousand users. 🧹

How it works

The principle is direct, and that is its strength. The bot watches messages in the group, finds addresses in them and removes those messages when a regular member wrote them.

A rule makes the decisions, not a moderator's mood. So the bot does not argue or tire, and the spammer sees the message vanish a moment after posting.

Setup in five steps

1. Open the group settings. The bot is meant for supergroups.
2. Add the bot as an administrator. That is how it can act on messages.
3. Allow message deletion. Without this right the bot is useless.
4. Remove extra rights. Inviting users and pinning messages are not needed by the bot.
5. Check the log. The recent actions section shows which messages the bot has already deleted.

What it will not do for you

The bot removes links but does not judge meaning. A spammer can write a site name without a link or post an image with an ad, and such messages sometimes stay.

• Ad images. The bot reacts to addresses, not to the content of pictures.
• Plain words. Phrases like "message me privately" go unnoticed.
• Friendly links. Members cannot share articles and videos until you change the rules.

Is such a strict rule right for you?

For chats with a steady stream of newcomers, such as communities around games or finance, a strict ban works well. Spammers almost always arrive with links.

In a work group where colleagues swap documents and articles, though, the ban gets in the way. If links are needed there, use other moderation tools. 🤔

When a link is removed by mistake

Sometimes a harmless message falls under the rule: a member wanted to share a useful article. Explain in the pinned rules that links are deleted automatically and suggest sending the material to an admin.

That keeps order in the chat and keeps members on your side. Transparent rules cause fewer arguments than silent deletion. 🙂

The /help command

The bot has one command: /help. It explains how to use it. Start there if something goes wrong during setup.

Settings are minimal, which is a plus for busy admins. Connect it, check it, forget it.

More ways to protect your chat

• Turn on checks for new members. Telegram's built-in features help filter bots at the door.
• Limit newcomers' rights. New members can be barred from sending media at first.
• Appoint several moderators. A chat should not depend on one person.
• Announce the rules. Pin a message: links from members are deleted automatically.

The bot does one job well. The rest is up to you, and combining several measures gives a clearly better result.