For a few years, every Polish internet user had to choose a side—or more commonly, run both simultaneously. You’d keep GG open for your school friends and Tlen open for your "internet znajomi" (online friends).
By 2008, the landscape had shifted. Onet.pl decided to merge Tlen with its other communication tool, (yes, the irony—Onet had acquired GG in 2007). The unified platform was rebranded as GG , and the Tlen name was slowly phased out. For a few years, every Polish internet user
Tlen's popularity declined with the rise of other instant messaging services, such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. In 2014, Tlen.pl S.A. announced that it would discontinue the Tlen service, citing declining user numbers and increasing competition. In 2014, Tlen
Tlen officially shut down its standalone client support around 2010-2012. The login servers went quiet. The door stopped creaking. At its peak
Tlen gained significant popularity in Poland and other European countries, particularly among young people. At its peak, Tlen had millions of registered users, with a strong presence in Poland, Russia, and other Eastern European countries.
In 2002, the Polish internet was still a wild west. International giants like ICQ and GG (Gadu-Gadu) were fighting for dominance. But Grupa Onet.pl —one of Poland’s largest portals—decided to enter the arena. They launched , a web-based instant messenger integrated directly into the Onet ecosystem.