ban Archives

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

Telegram Block in India Sparks Surge in Demand for VPNs and Alternative Messengers

The Indian government has temporarily restricted access to the Telegram messaging platform, leading to a significant increase in demand for VPN services and alternative communication applications. On the day the restriction was implemented, VPN app downloads in India reached a record high since the start of 2025, with daily downloads rising by 49% from an average of 139,000 to 208,000. Proton VPN saw a 113% increase in downloads on the Apple App Store and a 64% rise on Google Play, while Windscribe reported an 89% increase in downloads. Additionally, downloads of the Signal app surged by 322% on Google Play and by 72% in the App Store, and Viber downloads increased by 216%. The government's decision to restrict Telegram was made to combat fraudulent activities related to the NEET entrance exam.

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

Meta rolls out enhanced safety features for teen Instagram users

On June 18, 2026, Meta announced new safety features for users aged 13 to 17 on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, including: - Automatic private settings for Teen Accounts, requiring approval for new followers, with non-followers unable to view or interact with content. - Messaging limited to individuals they follow or are connected with. - Tagging and mentioning restricted to followers, with offensive language filtered through the Hidden Words feature. - Notifications to take breaks after 60 minutes of use. - Muted notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., with automatic replies sent during those hours. For users aged 13 to 15, accounts are private by default and require parental consent for changes. Older teens (16 to 17) can modify settings with parental notifications. The Family Center allows parents to manage settings and monitor activities. Teens may need to verify their age if they change it on their account, and providing false information could lead to account suspension or permanent disablement. Malina Enlund, Meta's head of safety policy for the Asia Pacific region, emphasized the importance of honesty about age. The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) supports creating a safe online environment rather than restricting access to social media, citing the 2021 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

India’s solution to entrance exam fraud: A temporary ban on Telegram

On June 13, 2026, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) held a protest in Hyderabad against alleged exam paper leaks related to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The Indian government temporarily blocked access to the messaging platform Telegram to combat exam fraud, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) announcing the ban will last until June 22 and disabling the message editing feature until June 30. The NEET-UG exam was canceled on May 12, affecting approximately 2.2 million students, following allegations of a paper leak. Telegram channels were found soliciting payments for leaked exam papers, while the NTA denied any papers were available outside secured channels. Political ramifications included calls from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Cockroach Janta Party organized protests nationwide demanding accountability for the examination discrepancies.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

India Blocks Telegram Access Ahead of Medical School Retest Amid ‘Fake Leak’ Scandal

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India has imposed a week-long ban on the messaging app Telegram amid a scandal related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This decision, enacted under the Information Technology (IT) Act, aims to protect national integrity and sovereignty, following significant irregularities in the original exam held on May 3. The National Testing Agency (NTA) invalidated the initial exam after discovering question leaks, and the upcoming retest is scheduled for June 21. The ban also includes the disabling of Telegram's 'message editing' feature until June 30. Despite the NTA's assurances that no questions have leaked for the retest, concerns about organized cheating groups using Telegram to spread misinformation persist. Pavel Durov, Telegram's CEO, criticized the ban for impacting millions of users without addressing underlying issues. Protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have occurred, and the case has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has arrested approximately 11 individuals based on preliminary findings of leaked questions in the exam.

AppWizard

June 16, 2026

India Blocks Telegram Messaging App Amid Exam Scandal

India has implemented a temporary ban on the Telegram messaging app until June 22 to combat cheating in medical entrance examinations, following reports of its use in fraudulent activities. This measure is part of the Ministry of Education's effort to maintain integrity and fairness in the examination process.

AppWizard

June 16, 2026

Telegram ban in India: 6 messaging apps to switch to right now

WhatsApp is the predominant messaging platform in India, known for its extensive user base and robust features, including end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, communities for large group interactions, document sharing, status updates, and business messaging. It provides a seamless transition for users coming from Telegram due to its intuitive interface and widespread acceptance, allowing easy adaptation without extensive onboarding.

AppWizard

June 16, 2026

Telegram banned in India NTA clarifies restrictions on messenger app ahead of NEET 2026 re-exam

The Indian government has banned the Telegram messenger app temporarily ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) supporting this decision due to the platform's alleged involvement in cheating networks and misinformation regarding paper leaks. The restrictions on Telegram include limiting access until June 22 and disabling the message-editing feature for messages posted in India until June 30.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Kremlin’s State-Mandated Max Messenger Removed From Apple Store

On June 3, Russia's Max messenger was removed from the Apple App Store. Max, launched in 2025 by VK, integrates messaging, social media, digital identification, payments, banking, and government services. The reasons for its removal are unclear, and VK plans to seek clarification from Apple. Following the removal, the app stopped sending push notifications. Max is part of the Kremlin's strategy for control over information and is positioned as a "secure" alternative, although it lacks end-to-end encryption. Moscow has previously restricted foreign social media platforms, including banning Facebook and Instagram, and has faced backlash for banning Telegram in 2026. Critics warn that Max may enable the Kremlin to monitor citizen communications, with concerns raised about the security of data shared through the app.

AppWizard

June 1, 2026

Android 18 Could Ban Battery-Draining Apps From the Play Store

Google is planning to implement stricter efficiency requirements for third-party applications with the launch of Android 18 in 2027. Developers may need to optimize their applications by removing unnecessary functions and background processes to avoid penalties, including potential removal from the Google Play Store. The focus will be on reducing battery drain, device overheating, memory consumption, background resource abuse, and improving overall system performance. If enforced, these changes could lead to longer battery life, reduced heating issues, faster performance, and improved reliability for users. However, developers may face challenges in optimizing their applications to meet these new standards.

AppWizard

May 31, 2026

There’s one game Don’t Nod narrative designer Nina Freeman won’t ever uninstall from her PC, because it’s banned on Steam: ‘It’s tragic, because everyone should play this game’

Nina Freeman's first gaming experience was with the 1991 game Rodent's Revenge, which she played on a friend's computer or at school. She has developed autobiographical games like Cibele and Last Call, and worked as a level designer on Tacoma and Open Roads. Currently, she is working on an undisclosed project with Don't Nod and developing an indie horror game titled Size Zero with her husband. Freeman recently played Angeline Era on her Steam Deck and completed Scarlet Hollow, which she describes as a masterpiece with a complex branching narrative. The oldest game installed on her PC is Rollercoaster Tycoon Deluxe, released in 1999. She has logged over 2,101 hours in Dota 2, which she and her husband enjoy together. Freeman considers Devotion by Red Candle Games one of the best horror games and will never uninstall it from her library. She relies on OBS for her work as a game developer and Twitch streamer, and maintains a tidy desktop for streaming purposes, although her external hard drives are less organized.