Demand Sage reported on Mar. 26 that TikTok has been banned in 23 countries, citing concerns about data security, misinformation, and user mental health. The app, owned by China’s ByteDance, faces a mix of complete and partial bans around the world.
The widespread restrictions reflect ongoing worries among governments about how user data is collected and stored. Many countries have pointed to national security threats due to allegations that TikTok stores user information on servers in China.
The list includes Albania, Somalia, Ireland, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan and others. Some nations such as the United States have implemented partial bans focused on government devices or specific states rather than a nationwide prohibition for all users. “At least 34 of the 50 states have announced or enforced restrictions on state government agencies…using TikTok on government-issued devices as of April 2023,” according to the report.
In several cases, individual incidents or political events prompted swift action. For example, Albania’s one-year ban followed a violent incident involving teenagers allegedly linked to content seen on TikTok. In India and Indonesia, concerns over inappropriate content and national security led to both temporary removals from app stores and longer-term access blocks.
Other nations like Australia have extended their policies beyond just TikTok; in December 2025 Australia became the first country to ban social media apps for children under sixteen years old—a move other countries are now considering.
Demand Sage notes that while some bans are lifted after policy changes or company compliance efforts—such as Pakistan’s multiple reversals—many remain in place pending further developments. The situation remains fluid: “It will be interesting to see whether any country will lift the TikTok ban or impose further restrictions on the app,” Demand Sage said.
