Why People in Turkey are Locked Out of Wattpad

In mid-July, Turkish readers and writers found themselves suddenly unable to access the Wattpad app—with no explanation as to why. Months later, we're finally finding out what's going on.

The Wattpad Ban in Turkey: What Happened?

Starting around mid-July 2024, users in Turkey found themselves locked out of the Wattpad, an online writing community for fanfiction and original works. Initially, users assumed there was an outage or glitch preventing them from accessing Wattpad's app and website. Even the folks at Wattpad seemed to be scratching their heads. They learned about the disruption only after receiving a flurry of complaints from Turkish users. They released a statement via Instagram on July 19th explaining:

We are aware of an issue accessing Wattpad in Turkey, which we have confirmed is not related to a technical issue on our end. We are reviewing the situation and options to restore access to Wattpad users in Turkey.

For a while, there was no official comment from the Turkish government and even Wattpad didn't know if the platform had, in fact, truly been banned. But in mid-August, Wattpad revealed that they had been in contact with Turkish officials and could confirm that there was in fact "a court-ordered access ban."

Source: @Wattpad Instagram Story

Turkey Official Accuses Wattpad of Hosting Objectionable Content

Turkey’s Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, weighed in, saying that because Wattpad has no representative in Turkey, they were unable to contact them to resolve complaints. She went on to suggest that Wattpad was blocked over exposing minors to potentially offensive content, including bullying, violence, sexual abuse, suicide, and substance abuse.

Silencing Young Writers

The Turkish Publishers Association and other literary organizations have been vocal about the ban, calling it an arbitrary action that interferes with freedom of expression. They argue that platforms like Wattpad are crucial for young writers who want to showcase their talent. With many young people relying on Wattpad to share their stories and connect with readers, this ban stifles creativity and expression. Elif Nur Şafak, a literary agent, told Publishing Perspectives that Wattpad has significantly contributed to the reading culture in Turkey, especially among teenagers.

The ban isn’t just about Wattpad; it’s part of a broader trend in Turkey where various social media and digital platforms have faced restrictions, raising concerns about censorship and freedom of speech.

What Happens Now?

Since the ban, Wattpad says it has made attempts to communicate with Turkish authorities, but progress has been slow. The company announced on their Instagram that their initial legal challenge to lift the ban was rejected, but they’re not giving up. They’ve initiated a second challenge and are exploring all avenues to restore access.

But in the meantime, Wattpad remains inaccessible with no clear path to lifting the ban. The platform serves as a lifeline for many young writers in Turkey, providing a space to express themselves freely and connect with like-minded individuals. Its loss raises alarm bells about the future of digital freedom and creative expression in the country.

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Is Wattpad or another fanfiction platform banned in your country? Share your experience in the comments...