On March 14 at 24:00 (Moscow time), Roskomnadzor blocked Instagram. The good news is that Instagram does not delete accounts in countries where this service is blocked – which means your posts, followers, and subscriptions will remain. The second good news is that if you have a strong desire, you can continue to use the service without legal consequences. Let’s consider how to bypass the Instagram block.
Why was Instagram blocked?
As reported by Roskomnadzor, Instagram has been blocked in Russia due to calls for violence against Russian citizens. Following recent events in Ukraine, Meta Platforms lifted the ban on calls for violence against Russian military. However, company representatives later noted that lifting the ban does not discriminate against ordinary Russian citizens and that Russophobia on their platforms is unacceptable. Meanwhile, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has asked the court to recognize Meta as an extremist organization and ban it from operating in Russia. However, according to official sources, Russian citizens will not face responsibility if they use methods to bypass the Instagram block. Media lawyers advise being vigilant and keeping up with the latest news, as publishing materials on prohibited services can be considered complicity in the activities of an extremist organization and result in significant fines, according to Russian law. Nevertheless, until the Russian Supreme Court recognizes Meta as an extremist organization, users can bypass the Instagram block today.
How to bypass a blockage
There are 2 main ways – VPN and anti-detection browser.
Using VPN
A VPN is a service that encrypts data about a user’s internet activity. Instead of connecting directly to a blocked website (such as Instagram), a person accesses it through remote servers. As a result, their browsing history and online activity are hidden (become anonymous), and they can change their virtual location. Even the internet service provider cannot see their online activity.
In some countries (such as China, Belarus, Turkey, etc.), VPN services are prohibited, while in Russia, they are currently allowed.
It is not recommended to use completely free VPNs as they carry the risk of leaking user data.
There are other downsides to using a VPN:
- Internet connection speed slows down.
- There is a risk that Instagram will block the VPN.
- Many other users connect to each VPN, and if any of them violate Instagram’s rules, you may also get blocked (the solution is dedicated IP addresses).
- A high-quality VPN service can be expensive.
- VPNs may store user data and logs. It is important that the service operates on a no-logs policy and is registered in a country whose legislation does not require VPNs to provide access to data.
One of the most popular services is Browsec. It is a Chrome browser extension, and in the free version, users can choose locations such as the Netherlands, the UK, Singapore, and the US. The paid version offers access to over 40 other countries.
Other popular VPNs include:
- ExpressVPN: can be used for free for one month. It is easy to install and connects instantly to the best servers.
- CyberGhost: slightly slower but still effective.
- PrivateVPN: quick to set up and easy to use.
To bypass the Instagram block in Russia on Android smartphones in 2022, users can use Tomato VPN, VPN ProxyMaster, and TurboVPN. For iOS smartphones, TunnelBar, VPN Master, Psiphon, and 1.1.1. Faster Internet are recommended.
Attention! On March 14, 2022, Roskomnadzor blocked six more VPN services: Betternet, Lantern, X-VPN, Cloudflare WARP, Tachyon VPN, and PrivateTunnel.
To avoid the Instagram block in Russia:
- Log out of your account.
- In the login section, click on the three dots next to your username and select “Delete”.
- Go to your smartphone’s settings, then to the app section.
- Delete the data and cache for Instagram.
- Remove the app from “active” by pressing “Home” and swiping up.
- Turn off location detection in settings. For iOS, the sequence is: Settings – Privacy – Location Services – Off. For Android: Settings – Location – Off.
After that, activate the VPN, select a country to connect to from the available options, and log in to Instagram again.
The average monthly cost of a VPN is $2 for users who subscribe for a long term (at least 2 years). A one-year plan costs $6 per month, and a monthly plan costs $10.
The cost of the service is not the only criterion for choosing a VPN. Users should also consider the VPN’s features, quality, and security.
Attention! If the VPN does not work, uninstall the current version of Instagram and install the previous one by downloading the APK file to your device. However, there is a risk of errors when using Instagram.
Using an anti-detection browser
Let’s consider the example of AdsPower. Install a browser and buy a proxy (it is not recommended to use free proxies as there is a risk of errors in Instagram and profile blocking). For example, an IPv4 proxy costs 99 rubles per month and is located in the USA.
Next, you need to configure the browser. Go to AdsPower, create a profile, select Facebook, specify the requested data and fingerprint, and then fill in the proxy value. Then, activate the profile in AdsPower and log in to Instagram using the purchased proxy, selecting Russian as the language.