which are the countries that have banned social media
Quick Scoop
There isn’t a single universal list of countries that have “banned social media.” In practice, some countries have blocked major platforms outright, while others have only banned access for children under a certain age or imposed temporary restrictions during unrest.
[12][13][15]Countries with major platform bans
| Country | What is blocked or restricted |
|---|---|
| China | Most Western social platforms are blocked; domestic alternatives are used instead. | [13][12]
| North Korea | Social media access is effectively blocked for the general population, alongside very limited internet access overall. | [12]
| Iran | Major platforms have been blocked or heavily restricted. | [13][12]
| Turkmenistan | Social media access is heavily blocked or restricted. | [12][13]
| Russia | Some Western platforms have been banned or restricted, especially since 2022. | [13][12]
Countries with youth bans
As of mid-2026, some countries are not banning social media for everyone, but are restricting it for minors. Australia already prohibits access for under-16s, and reports indicate Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom are among the countries moving in the same direction.
[1][2][3]Temporary or partial blocks
Several countries have also used temporary shutdowns or selective blocks during protests, emergencies, or political tension. Examples mentioned in the sources include Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Belarus, Montenegro, and Ukraine at different times.
[15][13]Important nuance
So the best short answer is: China, North Korea, Iran, and Turkmenistan are the clearest examples of countries with long-running social media bans or severe blocks, while several others restrict specific platforms or minors only.
[15][12][13]TL;DR: most “social media bans” are either platform blocks, age-based restrictions, or temporary shutdowns—not a blanket global rule.
[15][12]