a button in context menu for messages sent to a group that allows to quickly reply and preserve the context of the original message by showing a preview of the replied message and a button to open the message in the group's context.
Competitors' way
WhatsApp has a Reply privately button in group message's context menu that creates a tappeable reply in the private chat with the user that redirects you to the original message context in the group: WhatsApp: Here’s How to Privately Reply to a Group Message
Workarounds
that require extra taps & are not easy for the average user.
(A) “Reply Options” menu
open the context menu of a message, tap Reply, then tap the reply preview above the input field, select Reply in Another Chat, then find the chat where you'd like to send it. Added in https://telegram.org/blog/reply-revolution/
requires up to 5 taps.
it's difficult to find the user if you don't have a chat with them.
(B) Forward + Reply
forward a message from a group > Find the user you want to reply in private > Send your reply with the attached fowarded message
this doesn't allow to open the message in the original context.
(C) Copy Message Link + Reply
in groups with unified history you can use Copy Message Link > Find the user you want to reply in private > Send your reply with the link to the message in the group.
it doesn't show preview of the replied message.
(D) Cmd/Alt + Click on 'Reply' button (TDesktop only)
on Telegram Desktop app you can hold Cmd/Alt and click on Reply button in message context menu as a shortcut to reply in another chat.
I think they should make the feature a kind of like a whispering feature where the message will be sent to the group but only the recipient gets to see it. That seems better. What do think?
Telegram groups are big, so private replies from them may become flooding.
Not all groups are chats, a lot are about organization. We have a group of 45 people sharing 8 cars. A typical message is "Is anyone driving to place Y tonight ?". to this questions we really do NOT want 42 "me" or "no me" answers in the group, in this group the answers are always expected to be private (but most user forget how to do it). This feature could be pushed event further and set as a default group setting. for example [X] "reply in PM by default insted of reply in group"
Telegram groups are big, so private replies from them may become flooding.
More on this very essential feature