- Turkey has been blocking entry to all major social media platforms because the night of Sunday, September 7, 2025
- X, YouTube, Instagram, Fb, TikTok, and WhatsApp have all been impacted, in keeping with an web watchdog
- Proton VPN has recorded a spike of over 500% on an hourly foundation on the night time of Sunday
Turkey is at present blocking entry to all major social media platforms as political tensions develop within the nation.
X, YouTube, Instagram, Fb, TikTok, and WhatsApp all went darkish on a number of networks ranging from the night of Sunday, September 7, 2025, as recorded by web watchdog NetBlocks. “The incident comes as the primary opposition celebration CHP [Republican People’s Party] requires rallies after police blockade its Istanbul headquarters,” NetBlocks reported.
Isik Mater, Director of Analysis at NetBlocks, confirmed to Techradar that the state of affairs stays unchanged on the time of writing, “with networks in Istanbul particularly focused,” she added.
Residents haven’t wasted time, instantly turning to the greatest VPN apps to retain entry to blocked social media platforms. Proton VPN, for instance, recorded a spike in signups of greater than 500% on an hourly foundation on the night time of Sunday.
Speaking to TechRadar, a Proton spokesperson suggests enabling its Stealth protocol and the choice routing possibility for a greater probability of evading social media blocks. “It might require a couple of additional steps and some tries, however that is the optimum approach to join in these circumstances.”
Proton additionally recommends downloading its digital personal community (VPN) app solely by way of the official app retailer. On desktop, customers can achieve this by way of Proton’s GiftHub web page in case its official web site can also be blocked.
Not the primary time
That is removed from the primary time Proton VPN, at present ranked as among the best free VPN companies available on the market, has recorded comparable spikes in utilization in Turkey as residents try to navigate on-line disruptions.
In March, the supplier registered a spike of +1100% as the federal government shut down all major social media platforms for 42 hours.
Earlier than that, in 2024, Proton VPN signups skyrocketed by 1,400% in October and 4,500% in August amid comparable blocks on social media companies.
Residents more and more turned to Proton VPN in 2023, too. The corporate recorded a staggering 15,000% improve in February after Twitter was blocked following a lethal earthquake and a 2,100% spike in Might as residents ready for potential blocks forward of the presidential elections.
All this implies, Proton explains, that many web customers in Turkey have already downloaded Proton VPN over time. Subsequently, “the will increase are usually smaller than in different areas,” a Proton VPN spokesperson instructed TechRadar.
These spikes have occurred regardless of Proton VPN being among the many 27 VPN suppliers restricted in Turkey, alongside NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and others. Particularly, their official web sites are blocked within the nation.
All in all, in keeping with Surfshark’s information, this latest case marks Turkey’s 18th web restriction since 2015, affecting X, YouTube, Instagram, Fb, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
