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Afghanistan experienced a total 48-hour internet blackout starting September 29, 2025, followed by ongoing social media restrictions beginning October 7, 2025. The Taliban government cut fiber-optic and mobile internet services nationwide without warning, citing efforts to "prevent immoral activities." While full connectivity was briefly restored on October 1, authorities imposed restrictions on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms, leaving millions disconnected from the outside world.
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Afghanistan experienced a total 48-hour internet blackout starting September 29, 2025, followed by ongoing social media restrictions beginning October 7, 2025. The Taliban government cut fiber-optic and mobile internet services nationwide without warning, citing efforts to "prevent immoral activities." While full connectivity was briefly restored on October 1, authorities imposed restrictions on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms, leaving millions disconnected from the outside world.
To understand how people in Afghanistan responded to the September 29 blackout and October social media restrictions, VPN usage data and network monitoring were tracked from multiple sources.
Connection data from the VPN app in Afghanistan was monitored between September 28 and October 12, 2025. The data reveals two distinct phases of response to government restrictions.
All data was anonymous and grouped by country only, no personal details or browsing history were collected.
Network monitoring data from NetBlocks confirmed the total internet blackout from September 29–October 1, with connectivity dropping to 1% of normal levels. After brief restoration, NetBlocks confirmed on October 8 that social media platforms were "intentionally restricted" on multiple providers.
App store ranking trends from providers like AppFollow and Sensor Tower were also analyzed. These services track which apps rise or fall in the iOS App Store and Google Play.
By combining these approaches, it became possible to measure how quickly Afghan users adapted to the restrictions and which tools they used to maintain connectivity during this unprecedented digital isolation.
Public conversations on Twitter/X, Reddit, and Facebook between September 29 and October 20, 2025, were reviewed. Posts mentioned access issues, workarounds, and impacts of Afghanistan's internet blackout and social media restrictions. Personal details were removed, keeping only country-level insights from 50 posts across all three platforms.
Each post was sorted into themes:
"Has anyone been able to get hold of their family members in Afghanistan through any means? If yes, how did you reach them? We have tried everything including direct phone numbers in multiple cities but nothing works." - Reddit
"I was able to reach out to my cousin. He has access to Starlink internet, but apparently, the Taliban are trying to seize Starlink and other types of internet providers." - Reddit
"My wife lost all contact with her family in Kabul too. Currently I don't know how she can check on them. How do you decide to cut off all internet when so many things depend on it in the country?"- Reddit
"All the students and women we are in contact with have connected to VPNs so they can continue their online education and activities. This comes as the Taliban have blocked several applications, including Google Meet and even the Play Store." - Twitter
"TikTok was also banned but you just need to install a VPN and it works perfectly." - Twitter
PRIVACY NOTE: Only publicly available posts were analyzed. Private messages, account details, or exact locations were not collected. Quotes are anonymized and reworded when needed.
Following the 48-hour total internet blackout and subsequent social media restrictions starting October 7, Afghans turned to VPNs in unprecedented numbers. Daily VPN connections surged by more than 100% above typical baseline levels, with some peaks reaching 350% of normal usage, as users sought ways to access Facebook, Instagram, and other blocked platforms.
The graph reveals two distinct phases of response:
During the complete internet shutdown, connection activity dropped dramatically to near-zero levels on September 30, creating a visible trough in the data. This confirmed that even VPN services became inaccessible when fiber-optic and mobile networks were completely severed.
After connectivity was restored on October 1, usage gradually returned to baseline levels. However, when social media platform restrictions began on October 7, connections skyrocketed to more than double the typical daily usage, with sustained peaks reaching 125% to 350% above normal, as Afghans mobilized to bypass Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat blocks.
However, many Afghans have turned to free VPNs that may expose personal data, location, or browsing activity, which is particularly dangerous for journalists, women's rights defenders, and activists.
When governments cut internet access during political control, you're suddenly:
For Afghan women and girls already banned from education and most public spaces, internet access is often the only remaining connection to the outside world.
While authorities restricted connectivity, prepared users stayed connected to the information and people that matter. Here's how to maintain access during social media restrictions:
For social media access:
For global content:
Other VPN companies avoid talking about real censorship. This one doesn't. When your digital rights get restricted, the VPN is here.
What you get:
What you don't get:
