On Monday, Instagram was blocked in Russia after Moscow accused its parent company, Meta, of permitting calls for violence against Russians, including military personnel, on its platforms.
The decision follows Moscow’s blocking of Facebook and Twitter in early March as part of a broader effort to control information available to Russians regarding its military incursion in Ukraine.
Instagram was added to a list of “restricted” internet resources released by Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor on Monday.
According to reports, without a VPN, Instagram’s app was not refreshing.
In Russia, Facebook and Instagram are widely utilized, with Instagram being the most popular social media site among Russian teenagers.
Instagram was a significant tool for advertising, processing sales, and engaging with customers for many small Russian enterprises.