Australia
Australia's under-16 social media ban took effect on 10 December 2025, requiring covered platforms to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. In June 2026 the government moved to double fines amid evidence children were bypassing the ban.
Where is Instagram blocked?
Instagram is blocked, restricted or age-gated in 15 countries and territories — 7 complete bans, 2 partial restrictions and 7 age-verification requirements in total.
Brazil
Brazil's Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA Digital, Law 15,211/2025) took effect on 17 March 2026. Social media accounts for users under 16 must be linked to a legal guardian, and platforms must use reliable age verification — self-declaration alone is not allowed.
Canada
Meta began blocking news content for Canadian users in response to the Online News Act (Bill C-18), preventing users from viewing or sharing news on the platform.
Eritrea
Gabon
Gabon's media regulator, the High Authority for Communication, ordered social media suspended indefinitely in February 2026 amid labour unrest, citing fake news, cyberbullying and data violations. OONI measurements show Instagram blocked by DNS tampering since 18 February 2026, with no restoration date announced.
Gabon
Gabon's Ordinance No. 0011/PR/2026 (signed 26 February 2026; published 8 April 2026) sets a digital age of majority of 16 and requires parental consent for under-16 social media access. Platforms must verify users with more than an age or ID check alone — name, address and Personal Identification Number (NIP) — ending online anonymity. Operators have a 12-month transition period, with full compliance expected by February 2027.
Indonesia
Indonesia began deactivating under-16 accounts on designated high-risk platforms from 28 March 2026. The communications ministry named YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox among platforms subject to the under-16 restriction.
Islamic Republic of Iran
Instagram has been blocked since 2018 apart from a brief easing from December 2024; access was cut again around the June 2025 conflict and, as of May 2026, is not under consideration for reinstatement.
Malaysia
Malaysia's under-16 social media ban took effect on 1 June 2026. Platforms must verify users' ages and remove under-16 accounts or face fines of up to RM1 million.
North Korea
People's Republic of China
Russia
Since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Russia has banned Instagram.
Turkmenistan
Türkiye
Türkiye's parliament passed a law in April 2026 banning social media services for children under 15 and requiring platforms to implement age-verification systems and parental control tools for older minors. The law takes effect six months after publication in the Official Gazette, with full compliance expected in late 2026. A separate e-government (e-Devlet) real-ID login scheme for all users was still a draft as of April 2026.
Uganda
Blocked alongside other social media once connectivity returned after the January 2026 election shutdown. Internet was cut entirely from 13-18 January; OONI probes then recorded sustained IP-level blocking of instagram.com on several major networks, which the Uganda Communications Commission has confirmed.
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates Cabinet resolution (announced 18 June 2026) bars children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. Platforms must use robust age-verification — including digital identity and AI-supported checks; self-declaration alone is not accepted — with enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 to under 16. Phase one covers X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Platforms have a 12-month transition, with full compliance expected by June 2027.
Data updated:
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