Countries Where Social Media Is Banned (2026 List)

Why we checked this: every country listed below links to an entry in the TabooWorld banned database, where each ban has its status, start date and sources. For the child age bans, we checked government texts, regulator reports and the Tech Policy Press global tracker on November 1, 2026.

Which countries ban social media completely?

No country switches off every app forever, but four governments come close. They block the big Western platforms nationwide, for adults and children alike, and push people toward state-approved alternatives.

China

China runs the world’s best-known censorship system, often called the Great Firewall. Facebook was blocked after the July 2009 unrest in Ürümqi, when officials said the platform helped organise protests. X (Twitter) went dark the same year, and YouTube has been largely unreachable since March 2009. Instagram followed during the 2014 Hong Kong protests and never came back. WhatsApp was fully blocked in 2017 because its end-to-end encryption cannot be monitored. Chinese users rely on domestic apps such as WeChat, Weibo and Douyin instead.

Iran

Iran’s blocks tend to follow protests. Facebook and X were cut off after the disputed 2009 presidential election, even though many Iranian officials still post on X. Telegram was blocked by court order in 2018 after it was used during anti-government protests, and Instagram was blocked in September 2022 during the protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini. TikTok has been blocked since October 2019. WhatsApp is the messiest case: it was banned in 2022, freed in December 2024, then restricted again after the 2025 war and the 2026 shutdowns. For background on that conflict, see our US–Iran war explainer.

Russia

Russia has moved faster than any country in the past four years. Facebook and Instagram were blocked in March 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine, and Meta was later labelled “extremist”. The regulator Roskomnadzor then worked through the messaging apps: Signal in August 2024, Discord in October 2024 (after it ignored an order to delete 947 items) and Viber in December 2024. On February 12, 2026, WhatsApp was removed from Russia’s national DNS and the Kremlin told users to switch to Max, a state-backed messenger. YouTube was blocked nationwide the same day. LinkedIn has been blocked since 2016 for refusing to store Russian users’ data inside Russia. You can browse all ten Russian entries on our Russia bans page.

North Korea

North Korea doesn’t need to block individual apps because ordinary citizens have no access to the global internet at all. They can only reach Kwangmyong, a closed national intranet. The real internet is reserved for a small elite, and the government warns that trying to reach sites such as YouTube can bring punishment.

Which countries block only some platforms?

Several more countries block one or two platforms rather than the whole category. These bans are narrower, but they can last for decades.

• Turkmenistan: listed among countries with a standing national ban on YouTube since at least September 2012.
• Eritrea: some internet providers have intermittently blocked YouTube since 2011, possibly to save scarce bandwidth.
• India: TikTok was banned in June 2020 along with 58 other Chinese apps after the Galwan Valley border clash, and it is still unavailable.

How many apps does each country block?

We counted the major social and messaging platforms that each country currently blocks or restricts, using the “Banned” and “Restricted” entries in our database. Lifted bans are left out. North Korea is not on the chart because it blocks the entire global internet rather than individual apps.

The result surprises many readers: Russia now blocks more major Western platforms than China does. China blocked its list early and then stopped, because domestic apps had already replaced the foreign ones. Russia started late and is still adding to its list in 2026.

“Not in our database” means we have not yet published a verified entry, not that the platform works freely. We add entries only after checking official or reliable sources.

Which countries ban social media for children?

This is the fastest-growing kind of social media ban, and it works very differently. The apps stay online for adults. Instead, platforms must verify ages and close accounts that belong to children, or face large fines. Children and parents are not punished.

Countries where a child ban is already in force

• Australia (under 16): the first national ban took effect on December 10, 2025. It covers platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit and Threads, and parents cannot give consent on a child’s behalf. An amendment that received royal assent in September 2026 raised the maximum penalty to A$99 million. Our entry tracks it as restricted for under-16s.
• Malaysia (under 16): began barring under-16s from registering social media accounts on June 1, 2026.
• Indonesia (under 16): started restricting under-16s in March 2026 and later set fines of up to 6% of global revenue for platforms that don’t comply. Around 4.7 million accounts belonging to children had been closed by mid-2026.
• United Arab Emirates (under 15): Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2026 has been in force since June 30, 2026. Parental consent cannot override it, and platforms have until June 30, 2027, to put proper age checks in place.
• Turkey (under 15): an implementing regulation published in the Official Gazette on October 10 takes effect on November 1, 2026. Users aged 15 to 17 get private accounts with no livestreaming or personalised ads, and age checks run through the government e-Devlet portal.
• Brazil (under 16, with consent): since March 2026, children under 16 need parental consent and age verification to use social platforms.

Countries that have passed laws starting in 2027

• United Kingdom (under 16): the government announced an “Australia plus” ban in June 2026 covering Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, expected to start in spring 2027.
• Greece (under 15): passed in April 2026, with fines for platforms from January 1, 2027.

Countries still debating

France’s parliament approved an under-15 ban in July 2026, but the Constitutional Council struck it down on August 14, ruling it too broad. The EU, Denmark, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines all have proposals in progress. In the United States there is no national ban, but states such as Florida limit accounts for younger teens. France also already restricts phones in schools for under-15s.

Do child social media bans actually work?

Early evidence is mixed. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said in its first compliance report, in March 2026, that many under-16s still had accounts or could open new ones. A study reported in June 2026 found that about four in five Australian under-16s were still using social media. Supporters say the bans shift responsibility onto platforms and will tighten over time; critics say they push children toward fake ages, VPNs and less-moderated apps, and force adults to hand over ID.

Why do governments ban social media?

Looking across every social media entry in our database, almost every ban falls into one of six patterns:

1. Protests and unrest: China in 2009, Iran in 2009 and 2022, and Nepal in 2025.
2. War and national security: Russia after 2022, and India’s TikTok ban after a border clash.
3. Refusing government orders: Discord in Russia and X in Brazil were blocked after ignoring removal or court orders.
4. Data and registration rules: LinkedIn in Russia (data storage) and 26 platforms in Nepal (local registration).
5. Encryption: messaging apps that the state cannot monitor, such as WhatsApp in China and Signal in Russia.
6. Child safety: the new wave of age limits led by Australia.

The first five patterns target speech and control. Only the sixth is aimed at protecting children, which is why human rights groups treat the two kinds of ban very differently.

Which social media bans have been lifted?

Many bans don’t last. Public anger, court rulings or a deal with the platform can bring access back, sometimes within days.

• Nepal: blocked 26 platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp and X, in early September 2025 for failing to register. The ban was reversed on September 9, 2025, after Gen Z protests in which 19 people were killed.
• Nigeria: suspended Twitter in June 2021 after it deleted a presidential tweet, then lifted the ban in January 2022.
• Brazil: the Supreme Court suspended X in August 2024 in a dispute over court orders; it was restored in October 2024.
• Pakistan: blocked YouTube in 2012 over an anti-Islam video, and access returned in 2016 with a local version.
• Russia (Telegram, first time): blocked from 2018 to 2020 for refusing to hand over encryption keys, before new restrictions in 2026.
• United States: TikTok went dark for about 14 hours in January 2025, and a mostly US-owned joint venture took over US operations on January 22, 2026.

Is social media banned in the United States?

No. No major social media platform is banned nationwide in the US. The closest case was TikTok, which briefly went offline in January 2025 before a new ownership deal. What the US does have is a patchwork of state laws on teen accounts, and federal bills such as the Kids Online Safety Act that are still being debated in Congress.

Can travellers use social media in these countries?

In countries with blanket blocks, foreign apps generally won’t load on local networks. Many visitors use roaming data or a VPN, but VPN rules differ by country and unauthorised use can be illegal. Check your own government’s travel advice before you go, and don’t assume an app that works at the airport will work in the city.

We update this page whenever a ban starts, changes or ends. To see every app and website restriction in one place, filter our database by Apps & Websites, or compare full country lists for China and Iran. If you’re curious about bans beyond tech, the full banned-around-the-world list covers books, food, products and laws in 28 countries.

Frequently asked questions

Which country has banned social media completely?

North Korea is the only country where ordinary citizens have no access to the global internet at all; they can only use a state intranet. China, Iran and Russia block most major Western platforms but allow domestic or state-approved alternatives, so social media itself still exists there.

Which country was the first to ban social media for children?

Australia was the first country to enforce a national ban, which took effect on December 10, 2025, for under-16s. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and YouTube must stop children from holding accounts, and the maximum fine is now A$99 million.

Is WhatsApp banned in Russia?

Yes. Russia’s regulator removed WhatsApp from the national DNS on February 12, 2026, and the Kremlin told users to switch to Max, a state-backed messenger. Signal, Viber and Discord were already blocked in 2024, and Telegram has faced new restrictions since February 2026.

Is YouTube banned in China?

Yes. YouTube has been largely inaccessible in mainland China since March 2009, after earlier intermittent blocks. It is also blocked in Iran, Russia, North Korea and Turkmenistan, while Pakistan restored access in 2016 after a four-year block.

Is social media banned for kids in the UK?

Not yet. The UK government announced in June 2026 that under-16s will be barred from platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The rules are expected to take effect in spring 2027, so children can still hold accounts for now.

Why did Nepal ban social media in 2025?

Nepal blocked 26 platforms in September 2025 because they had not registered with the government under new rules. The ban triggered Gen Z protests in which 19 people were killed, and the government lifted it on September 9, 2025.

Sources

• Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, Federal Register of Legislation (Australia)
• eSafety Commissioner: Social media minimum age compliance report
• Prime Minister of Australia: Stronger powers and double penalties
• UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety
• Turkey Official Gazette, October 10, 2026: social media age verification regulation
• Conseil constitutionnel, Decision 2026-911 DC (France)
• GOV.UK: Social media to be banned for under-16s
• Reuters: From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children’s social media access
• Tech Policy Press: Global Social Media Age Restriction Tracker
• AP News: Malaysia bans social media accounts for children under 16
• DW: Indonesia rolls out social media ban for under-16s
• The Guardian: Four in five under-16s in Australia using social media despite ban
• NepaliTelecom: Social media ban lifted in Nepal
• TabooWorld banned database (per-entry sources on each page)

This page is for general information and is not legal or travel advice. Laws change often; check official government sources before you travel or act on this information.