This is false. Many, many IRC clients implement encryption, both in one-to-one and group (channel) forms. That's the beauty of IRC. The client can support almos

This is false. Many, many IRC clients implement encryption, both in one-to-one and group (channel) forms. That's the beauty of IRC. The client can support almost anything it wants to. And if you don't like one client... there's another one for you to try! You want to see everyone's memes inline? Clients can do that. You want to see emoji? Clients can do that. You want to have encryption, or voice, or send files? Clients can easily at the very least negotiate that over IRC. Edit: And by the way, most servers offer a mode that allows you to require that everyone joining be using TLS, or of course you could run your own server and simply have it only listen for TLS!