Restrictions have been placed on content on social media platforms in Afghanistan, as confirmed by Taliban government sources to BBC Afghan.

These restrictions involve filtering certain types of posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, as revealed by officials from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Specific details on the types of content being filtered were not disclosed, but users in Kabul reported that videos on their Facebook accounts are no longer viewable, along with restricted access to Instagram.

The new restrictions follow a two-day internet and telecommunications blackout that caused significant disruption for the population.

Widespread access problems were reported throughout the country, with many citizens limited in their access to social media since the latest restrictions were put in place.

A Taliban government source stated, Some sort of controls have been applied to restrict certain types of content on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. We hope this time there wouldn't be any full ban on the internet. They also mentioned the filtering is widely applied across most provinces.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity organization NetBlocks confirmed that the restrictions are intentional and noted that social sites are intermittently accessible on smartphones. Users reported that connectivity is notably slow, with some unable to view pictures or play videos on Facebook.

Since regaining power, the Taliban has put in place various restrictions that align with their interpretation of Sharia law. Many women have conveyed to the BBC that the internet acts as a crucial link to the world, especially following measures that limit girls' education.

As the government continues to limit freedoms, fears rise regarding the further erosion of rights and access to essential information resources.