Social media restrictions

Governments can restrict social media or messaging apps to prevent people from communicating with each other and spreading news in times of unrest. Surfshark primarily records cases of Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, Telegram and Whatsapp.

Where has social media been restricted?

The map below shows which countries have been affected by social media/messaging app restrictions since 2015.

China

Facebook has been disrupted since 2009 July.

China

X (formerly Twitter) has been disrupted since 2009 July.

China

Youtube has been disrupted since 2009 July.

China

Instagram has been disrupted since 2016 September.

China

Telegram has been disrupted since 2016 July.

China

Whatsapp has been disrupted since 2017 September.

66 out of 196 analyzed countries and territories have disrupted social media/messaging apps since 2015, affecting slightly less than 70% of the global population.

Most long-term social media/messaging app disruption cases have been registered in Asia. 68% of countries currently restricting services are located in Asia.

How many people have been affected?

The scope of social media and messaging app restrictions is staggering. The chart below shows how many people were deprived of access to specific platforms.

Facebook

Country count: 49

Population

3 678 362 626

X (formerly Twitter)

Country count: 39

Population

3 573 856 598

Youtube

Country count: 26

Population

2 342 535 102

Instagram

Country count: 40

Population

3 317 654 085

Country count: 34

Population

3 282 630 516

Country count: 49

Population

3 630 454 297

Facebook is the most common social media platform to be restricted by governments. 56% of the global population has been affected by government-imposed Facebook disruptions.

Whatsapp is the most common messaging app to be restricted by governments. 55% of the global population has been affected by government-imposed Whatsapp disruptions.

What causes social media restrictions?

The Internet Shutdown Tracker records cases of politically-motivated social media and messaging app restrictions and distinguishes the cause for each case. Below, restrictions of 6 different platforms have been broken down by cause.

Facebook

Due to protests

Due to elections

Due to political turmoil

Due to internet law

X (formerly Twitter)

Due to protests

Due to elections

Due to political turmoil

Due to internet law

Youtube

Due to protests

Due to elections

Due to political turmoil

Due to internet law

Instagram

Due to protests

Due to elections

Due to political turmoil

Due to internet law

Due to protests

Due to elections

Due to political turmoil

Due to internet law

Due to protests

Due to elections

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

South America

Oceania

Since 2020, at least 43 governments have imposed social media or messaging app restrictions. On average, 12 countries do so each year

So far, 4 countries have imposed restrictions in 2025. Last year (2024), there were a total of 9 governments that imposed social media or messaging restrictions.