Tanzania’s practice of blocking online platforms, social media outlets, or even the entire internet is not unfamiliar territory. Yet, even with this foreknowledge, millions of subscribers to the ‘X’ platform were unprepared for the sudden disruption that left their screens frozen and unresponsive.
On Friday, August 30, 2024, users found that their Twitter pages were not loading, refreshing, or even scrolling. X was effectively paralyzed, leaving its users stranded from the late afternoon onwards.
In response, many were forced to activate or reinstall Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to regain access to the blocked ‘X’ services. This situation mirrors the experience during the 2020 election season, when similar blocks were imposed.
Prominent social media activists, including Maria Sarungi Tsehai, Boniface Jacob, Twaha Mwaipaya, and Advocate Fatma Karume, voiced their concerns, suspecting the Tanzanian Government’s attempt to silence its critics.
‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, stands as the most popular media platform in Tanzania. It serves as a vital space where people exchange ideas, stay updated on current affairs, and even conduct business and trade.
Read: How to set up Twitter Blue
Traditional mainstream media in Tanzania is largely viewed with skepticism, as newspapers, radio, and television stations have lost the public’s trust. Consequently, social media platforms have become the go-to sources for reliable and interactive news.
The freezing of ‘X’ on that fateful Friday shocked many, especially as it occurred amidst public outrage over the alarming increase in disappearances and abductions in the country. Some legislators had even attempted to address these concerns in the National Assembly recently.
Both the Tanganyika Law Society and various human rights organizations have been urging state authorities to address these disturbing trends. The sudden block of ‘X’ adds another layer of concern in an already tense atmosphere within the East African nation.
