Originally published on DropThe.org.
Russia blocked WhatsApp yesterday. Not throttled. Not limited. Blocked. The Kremlin told 144 million people to switch to a state-backed app called MAX instead.
Russia is not an outlier. It joins a list of 30+ countries that have banned or restricted at least one major social media or messaging app. Some ban a single platform. Others block everything. The reasons range from national security to “morality” to simply not wanting citizens to organize.
We mapped every documented case.
The Full Ban List: Who Blocks What
The scale of global app censorship is larger than most people realize. China alone blocks seven major platforms. Iran blocks six. Russia, as of this week, blocks four — with more likely coming.
| Country | Platforms Banned or Restricted | Year Started | Stated Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, YouTube, Google, TikTok (global) | 2009 | National security / Xinjiang unrest |
| North Korea | All global platforms | Permanent | Total information control |
| Iran | Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp (partial), Telegram (partial) | 2009 | Election protests / “Western influence” |
| Russia | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp (Feb 2026), X (restricted) | 2022 | Meta labeled “extremist” / non-compliance |
| Turkmenistan | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, WeChat | Ongoing | Government internet control |
| India | TikTok + 58 Chinese apps | 2020 | National security / border clash with China |
| Nepal | Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, TikTok (26 platforms total) | 2025 | Platforms failed to register with government |
| Myanmar | Facebook, messaging apps | 2021 | Military coup |
| Turkey | X, YouTube, WhatsApp (temporary blocks) | Recurring | Political unrest / elections |
| Uganda | Facebook, Instagram (during elections) | Recurring | “Security and stability” |
| Albania | TikTok (1-year ban) | 2024 | Domestic child safety concerns |
| Somalia | TikTok, Telegram | 2023 | “Indecent content and propaganda” |
| Pakistan | X (restricted), TikTok (periodic bans) | Recurring | Blasphemy / political unrest |
| Ethiopia | Telegram, social media (during conflict) | Recurring | Civil war information control |
| Afghanistan | TikTok, CapCut, PUBG | 2022 | “Un-Islamic” content |
| Cuba | Social media (periodic shutdowns) | Recurring | Protest suppression |
| Kenya | Telegram (2025) | 2025 | Protests |
This is an excerpt. Read the full analysis with charts and data on DropThe.org
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