X, WhatsApp, YouTube, and other social media platforms go dark in Turkey – and VPN usage spikes

• Turkey has been blocking access to all main social media platforms since the evening of Sunday, September 7, 2025
• X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp have all been impacted, according to an internet watchdog
• Proton VPN has recorded a spike of over 500% on an hourly basis on the night of Sunday

Turkey is currently blocking access to all main social media platforms as political tensions grow in the country.

X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp all went dark on multiple networks starting from the evening of Sunday, September 7, 2025, as recorded by internet watchdog NetBlocks. "The incident comes as the main opposition party CHP [Republican People’s Party] calls for rallies after police blockade its Istanbul headquarters," NetBlocks reported.

Isik Mater, Director of Research at NetBlocks, confirmed to Techradar that the situation remains unchanged at the time of writing, "with networks in Istanbul specifically targeted," she added.

Citizens have not wasted time, immediately turning to the best VPN apps to retain access to blocked social media platforms. Proton VPN, for example, recorded a spike in signups of more than 500% on an hourly basis on the night of Sunday.

Talking to TechRadar, a Proton spokesperson suggests enabling its Stealth protocol and the alternative routing option for a better chance of evading social media blocks. "It may require a few extra steps and a few tries, but this is the optimal way to connect in these circumstances."

Proton also recommends downloading its virtual private network (VPN) app only via the official app store. On desktop, users can do so via Proton's GiftHub page in case its official website is also blocked.

Not the first time

This is far from the first time Proton VPN, currently ranked as one of the best free VPN services on the market, has recorded similar spikes in usage in Turkey as citizens attempt to navigate online disruptions.

In March, the provider registered a spike of +1100% as the government shut down all main social media platforms for 42 hours.

Before that, in 2024, Proton VPN signups skyrocketed by 1,400% in October and 4,500% in August amid similar blocks on social media services.

Citizens increasingly turned to Proton VPN in 2023, too. The company recorded a staggering 15,000% increase in February after Twitter was blocked following a deadly earthquake and a 2,100% spike in May as citizens prepared for potential blocks ahead of the presidential elections.

All this means, Proton explains, that many internet users in Turkey have already downloaded Proton VPN over the years. Therefore, "the increases are typically smaller than in other regions," a Proton VPN spokesperson told TechRadar.

These spikes have occurred despite Proton VPN being among the 27 VPN providers restricted in Turkey, alongside NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and others. Specifically, their official websites are blocked in the country.

All in all, according to Surfshark's data, this newest case marks Turkey’s 18th internet restriction since 2015, affecting X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp.

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