The availability of the Meta-owned photo and video-sharing platform within mainland China is restricted. Access to the application and website is generally blocked by the country’s internet censorship apparatus, often referred to as the Great Firewall. Individuals seeking to utilize the service typically require Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or similar circumvention tools to bypass these restrictions.
The absence of unfettered access is tied to broader governmental policies concerning control over information dissemination and the promotion of domestic social media platforms. This approach allows for the monitoring and regulation of online content, aligning with national security and societal values as interpreted by the ruling authorities. Historically, the blocking of various foreign social media services has facilitated the rise and dominance of indigenous alternatives.