jiā péng

加蓬

huī fù

恢复

shè jiāo méi tǐ

社交媒体

shǐ yòng

使用

 

，

dàn

但

yǒu

有

dài jià

代价

On October 24, 2026, the Gabonese government allowed people to use several social media platforms again.

These platforms can be used to send messages, watch videos, and share information.

Previously, more than 1.84 million people had been unable to use these services normally for over eight months.

On February 17, the department responsible for managing the media in Gabon announced the suspension of several platforms, including Facebook and TikTok.

The department said this was intended to protect national security and reduce online bullying, threats, and hate speech.

However, restoring access does not mean returning to the way things were before.

The new rules require all social media users to provide personal identification information.

If online content violates the law, not only the person who posted it but also anyone who reposted it may face legal punishment.

The government also said it is working with TikTok, Meta, and YouTube to strengthen the monitoring of online content.

However, it is still unclear how the two sides will cooperate and how the government will require platforms to handle content.

These changes raise concerns: Can personal information be protected?

Will people still feel safe criticizing the government?

Critics of these measures believe that dealing with harmful content is necessary, but the rules must be clear, and independent people or organizations must be able to review the government’s actions.

If content is removed, users should also have the opportunity to request a review.

Otherwise, although the platforms may be available again, people may be afraid to express their opinions because they fear being punished.