Social media blackout aims to curb violence and unrest in South Sudan.
Imagine waking up to the usual routine—grabbing your phone, sipping your morning coffee, and scrolling through your favorite social media platforms to get your daily dose of funny videos, viral challenges, and endless memes. It’s almost like a ritual, an essential part of starting your day. The memes and videos help us navigate through the mundane, offering a brief escape and a laugh or two before we dive into our workday. But one morning, you open your phone and instead of the usual flood of viral content and updates from friends, you’re met with… nothing. Absolutely nothing. No posts, no memes, no funny videos—just a blank screen.
This is now the reality for the citizens of South Sudan. In a move that has shocked many, President Salva Kiir has implemented a sweeping ban on all social media platforms across the country for at least 30 days—essentially sending the entire internet into timeout.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) made the announcement on January 22, 2025, revealing that social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and TikTok would be shut down as part of efforts to curb the spread of disturbing content. The immediate goal? To prevent graphic and distressing videos circulating on social media that have sparked unrest and violence across the country.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds a bit extreme, doesn’t it?” Well, buckle up, because the reasons behind this drastic measure are as serious as they come. The South Sudanese government is trying to protect its people from a wave of disturbing and violent videos that have been flooding the internet. These videos allegedly show militia groups in Sudan’s Gezira state targeting South Sudanese nationals, which have caused immense emotional distress among the public. The footage has fueled anger, deep sadness, and chaos within South Sudan, leading to retaliatory acts of violence, including the looting of Sudanese-owned shops and businesses in the country.
As tensions escalated, the government had no choice but to step in with what many might see as a bold, if not desperate, move—cutting off access to social media entirely and enforcing a strict dusk-to-dawn curfew. It’s like the government looked at the situation and said, “If we can’t stop the drama, we’ll just take away the stage where it happens.” But let’s face it—shutting down TikTok and Facebook feels a little like blaming the mirror for your bad hair day. Social media is not the root cause of the unrest, but the tool where it is being amplified and spread.

The government’s official stance is that this social media blackout will help “maintain public safety” and prevent further violence or retaliation. However, we live in a world where social media isn’t just a place to check up on the latest gossip or follow trends. It’s a lifeline for communication, a platform for sharing news, activism, and, yes, the occasional meme that helps us cope with the chaos around us. For many, social media is not just entertainment—it’s how they stay informed and connected to the world, especially in countries with limited access to other forms of media.
In South Sudan, the shutdown means that people will no longer be able to communicate via WhatsApp, no Facebook updates, no Twitter threads, and no TikTok trends. South Sudanese telecom giants like MTN and Zain have been ordered to block all social media platforms, effectively cutting off access to the outside world for millions. For many citizens, it’s like losing their best group project partner—suddenly, you’re left to navigate the world without your go-to source of news, entertainment, and social connection. This might sound trivial in comparison to the larger political issues at play, but for millions of people who rely on these platforms for everyday communication, it’s a serious blow.
Let’s not overlook the irony of this decision. In an attempt to curb the chaos, South Sudan has inadvertently sparked even more frustration and anger. After all, nothing riles people up more than taking away their favorite source of entertainment and connection. By removing social media, the government has unintentionally fueled more outrage, as citizens—especially the younger generations—are left to wonder why they’re being punished for something they had no control over. It’s like trying to stop a wildfire by throwing more fuel onto it. The move has the potential to create even more unrest, and there’s no guarantee that this shutdown will have the desired effect of reducing violence.
For the South Sudanese government, this shutdown is about more than just silencing hashtags and social media posts—it’s about trying to stabilize a nation already grappling with a host of complex issues, including political instability, famine, displacement, and internal conflict. The violence in Sudan, which has been ongoing since April 2023, has spilled over into South Sudan, exacerbating existing tensions and complicating efforts to achieve peace in the region. The African Union has condemned the violence and urged for calm, but the situation remains volatile. The conflict in Sudan has created a domino effect of unrest, destabilizing the region and further complicating South Sudan’s already difficult position.
The NCA has stated that the social media blackout could last up to 90 days, though they’ve left the possibility open for lifting the ban sooner if the situation stabilizes. Until then, South Sudanese citizens will have to rely on old-fashioned forms of communication—conversations in person, offline connections, and yes, maybe even picking up a good old book to pass the time. For a nation that is already struggling with connectivity and access to information, this is a major setback. But for the government, the priority is clear: restore peace, avoid further violence, and protect the public from harmful content.
At the end of the day, it’s a delicate balance. Social media is a tool that can be both a blessing and a curse—offering a platform for communication and information, but also serving as a vehicle for spreading harmful and violent content. In South Sudan’s case, it’s clear that the government feels the need to err on the side of caution, even if that means cutting off an important communication tool for millions. The question remains, however: will this social media blackout bring the peace and stability that the country desperately needs, or will it only serve to deepen the divisions and frustration among its people?
In the meantime, South Sudanese citizens will have to adapt to life without their usual digital distractions. The hope is that, after 30 to 90 days, things will calm down, and the government will lift the ban. But until then, it’s a period of uncertainty—and for many, it’s going to feel like the world has gone silent.