Shutting down Instagram, and the previous ban on Facebook, also puts Meta’s WhatsApp used by 77 million people at risk
By Eugene Onyeji
Russians have been barred from using Instagram as President Vladimir Putin cracks down on social media platforms that do not agree with the government’s line on its invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian government has announced it will block Instagram from March 14, after accusing the social network’s parent company, Meta, of “turning a blind eye to calls for violence against Russians”.
Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, gave Russian users a 48-hour grace period to say farewell to the popular app.
The ban went into effect on Sunday midnight and users were left facing a blank screen when they went to the app.
Russian authorities already had blocked Facebook access on March 4, citing discrimination against Russian state media on the platform.
The ban on Instagram is the latest example of how Russia’s citizens are being isolated from the rest of the world as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Instagram has about 80 million users, and the impact of shutting the social media platform goes well beyond inconveniencing Russians who post vacation and family photos.
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The ban on Instagram is a tough blow for influencers and small business owners in the country, where it is widely used as a business tool.
Tears have been flowing since the announcement among Russia’s Instagram influencers, who begged their followers in farewell posts to join them on alternative social media platforms.
They have been posting tearful farewell videos or selfies with links to their profile on VK, Russia’s most dominant, non-Western social media site, to ensure their popularity is transferred out of Instagram.
Before Instagram was shut down, reality TV star Olga Buzova, who had the second most popular Instagram account in Russia with 23 million followers, sent a farewell message writing “I hope this isn’t true.”
“Right now, I’m writing this post and crying,” she said.
While influencers film themselves making tearful goodbyes, Instagram’s departure from the country also leaves many small business owners—who use the platform to advertise, process sales and communicate with clients—also lost.
Shutting down Instagram, and the previous ban on Facebook, also puts Meta’s WhatsApp at risk. WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in Russia, used by 77 million people.
