VPN usage up 35,000% in Afghanistan as authorities restrict access to social media – here's what we know

A mobile phone with a generic VPN screen and a world map of the server network in the background.

• Social media restrictions imposed in Afghanistan on October 7 have led many to turn to VPNs
• Proton VPN recorded spikes in usage of +35,000% above baseline
• The social media ban follows a 48-hour complete internet shutdown on September 29, 2025

Afghans have been turning to VPN services en masse since last Tuesday, October 7, when authorities began restricting access to popular social media platforms.