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Where has social media been restricted?

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

Currently restricting access
Restricted access in the past
No evidence
67 out of 196 analyzed countries and territories have disrupted social media/messaging apps since 2015, affecting more than 70% of the global population.
Most long-term social media/messaging app disruption cases have been registered in Asia. 67% 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: 51
Population
3 844 507 229
X (formerly Twitter)
Country count: 40
Population
3 686 913 139
Youtube
Country count: 27
Population
2 415 603 269
Instagram
Country count: 43
Population
3 472 716 982
Telegram
Country count: 37
Population
3 480 640 667
Whatsapp
Country count: 50
Population
3 743 367 830
Facebook is the most common social media platform to be restricted by governments. 47% of the global population has been affected by government-imposed Facebook disruptions.
Whatsapp is the most common messaging app to be restricted by governments. 46% 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
37
Due to elections
15
Due to political turmoil
43
Due to internet law
2
X (formerly Twitter)
Due to protests
24
Due to elections
13
Due to political turmoil
36
Due to internet law
3
Youtube
Due to protests
18
Due to elections
5
Due to political turmoil
53
Due to internet law
2
Instagram
Due to protests
26
Due to elections
9
Due to political turmoil
34
Due to internet law
3
Telegram
Due to protests
17
Due to elections
6
Due to political turmoil
19
Due to internet law
8
Whatsapp
Due to protests
26
Due to elections
12
Due to political turmoil
26
Due to internet law
8
Protests are one of the leading causes of social media disruptions. Facebook alone has been disrupted 37 times since 2015 amid protests.
Telegram and Whatsapp are often permanently restricted due to internet laws banning VoIP as a service that makes the use of messaging apps illegal.

When was social media restricted?

The chart below shows social media/messaging app restrictions by region in six-month increments.

2015'H1

Africa

1

Asia

3

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

0

Oceania

0

2015'H2

Africa

0

Asia

3

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

1

Oceania

0

2016'H1

Africa

2

Asia

5

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

1

Oceania

0

2016'H2

Africa

4

Asia

4

Europe

2

North America

0

South America

1

Oceania

0

2017'H1

Africa

0

Asia

1

Europe

1

North America

0

South America

0

Oceania

0

2017'H2

Africa

2

Asia

7

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

0

Oceania

0

2018'H1

Africa

1

Asia

3

Europe

1

North America

0

South America

0

Oceania

0

2018'H2

Africa

3

Asia

2

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

0

Oceania

0

2019'H1

Africa

7

Asia

4

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

1

Oceania

0

2019'H2

Africa

2

Asia

2

Europe

0

North America

0

South America

2

Oceania

0

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Since 2020, at least 46 governments have imposed social media or messaging app restrictions. On average, 12 countries do so each year
So far, 12 countries have imposed restrictions in 2025. Last year (2024), there were a total of 9 governments that imposed social media or messaging restrictions.