diff --git a/backend/src/channels.py b/backend/src/channels.py
index 8300e54..6420639 100644
--- a/backend/src/channels.py
+++ b/backend/src/channels.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ class Channels:
             })
             self._trim(state["transcript"])
             transcript = self._render(state["transcript"])
+            await self.mark_as_read(agent_id, chat_id)
             await self._run_agent(agent_id, kind, chat_id, chat, sender_name, transcript)
 
     async def _run_agent(self, agent_id, kind, chat_id, chat, sender_name, transcript):
@@ -274,6 +275,9 @@ class Channels:
             f"Latest message from: {sender_name}",
         ])
 
+        # Signal presence for the lifetime of this run.
+        await self.set_online_status(agent_id, chat_id, online=True)
+
         tool = ToolSpec(
             name="send_message",
             description="Send a text message back to this Telegram conversation.",
@@ -338,6 +342,13 @@ class Channels:
         if len(text) > MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH:
             text = text[:MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH]
 
+        # Typing indicator immediately before the message so the user sees
+        # the three-dot animation right as the reply is ready.
+        try:
+            await self._api(token, "sendAction", {"chat_id": chat_id, "action": "typing"})
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"[channel] sendAction typing failed for agent {agent_id}: {e}")
+
         try:
             await self._api(token, "sendMessage", {"chat_id": chat_id, "text": text})
             return "ok"
@@ -345,6 +356,43 @@ class Channels:
             print(f"[channel] sendMessage failed for agent {agent_id}: {e}")
             return f"error: {e}"
 
+    async def send_typing(self, agent_id, chat_id, typing=True):
+        """Send a typing action indicator to the chat.
+
+        Telegram exposes this via ``sendAction`` with ``typing`` (start) or
+        ``cancel`` (stop). Failures are swallowed: an indicator is cosmetic
+        and must never break a run.
+        """
+        binding = await self.get_binding(agent_id)
+        if binding is None:
+            return
+        token = (binding.value or {}).get("token")
+        if not token:
+            return
+        action = "typing" if typing else "cancel"
+        try:
+            await self._api(token, "sendAction", {"chat_id": chat_id, "action": action})
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"[channel] sendAction failed: {e}")
+
+    async def mark_as_read(self, agent_id, chat_id):
+        """Mark an inbound message as read.
+
+        Telegram bots have no native read receipt; acceptance is already
+        handled by :meth:`accept_update`. This stays an explicit hook on the
+        inbound path so a provider that does support receipts can be wired in
+        here later.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    async def set_online_status(self, agent_id, chat_id, online=True):
+        """Signal presence for the conversation.
+
+        A single ``typing`` action marks the run as online; ``cancel`` clears
+        it. Delegates to :meth:`send_typing`.
+        """
+        await self.send_typing(agent_id, chat_id, typing=online)
+
     # --- In-memory transcript ---
 
     def _state(self, agent_id, chat_id):