[Joe_Cool]

Same here. Telegram does not suggest contacts, groups or anything else to you. If you see wackos it's because you have them in your contact list.

It's the only IM I have used that works most of the time, is not Google or Meta, is free and is easy enough to get working for normies.

I'd use IRC, XMPP or Matrix but then I cannot contact the non-tech friends I want to chat with from time to time.

[BenjiWiebe]

Except Telegram requires you to pay to have the option of only allowing your contacts to message you.

And even then, if the spammer buys premium, they can still message you!

[Joe_Cool]

True, but then the spammer still needs to have your phone number or your @username.

Sadly there are too many data leaks so those phone numbers are out there.