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However, there are some governments that went the extra mile in repressing their citizens' digital life.

“Five countries have experienced the longest restrictions (lasting more than five years).

Surfshark’s world map showing the countries restricting social media platforms.

In Western countries, social media platforms are often seen in a negative light.

At the same time, there was not a decrease either.

She said: “Its unlikely that the countries imposing decade-long restrictions will retract them anytime soon.

Also some so-called Western democracies have been showing a will to gain greater control of how people communicate online.

But its also crucial that we preserve individuals' access to social media.

Banning entire platforms is certainly not the right solution.”

The latter ability is exactly what you should probably bypass social media restrictions.

That’s why I suggest downloading several apps to hop from one to another in case these get blocked.

I recommend checking TechRadar’sbest free VPNspage to choose the safer freebies on the market.

Additional tools like theTor browsercan also help here, as well as less-known software likeSnowstormandLantern.