US EditionIndian Army's rules for personnel on use of Instagram, WhatsApp: 'Only monitor, no comments'
The Indian Army restricts active social media use while allowing passive access to platforms like Instagram and X to protect operational security, per new policy.
- On December 25, 2025, the Indian Army revised its social media policy to let personnel view and monitor Instagram and X, Army Headquarters said from New Delhi.
- After years of strict rules, the Indian Army relaxed parts of its social-media ban following a July 2020 directive ordering officers and soldiers to delete Facebook and Instagram plus 89 mobile applications, including 59 linked to China.
- Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal may be used only to exchange unclassified information with known persons, while LinkedIn is limited to professional uses and warns against risky websites and cloud-based data storage services, the Army said.
- Army Headquarters, via the DGMI, issued the new guidance effective immediately, banning all active engagement including posting, commenting, sharing, reacting, sending messages and uploading user content.
- Amid operational-security concerns, the Army limited online activity to monitoring, authorising passive participation on platforms like YouTube and Quora while banning active engagement, the Army said.
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12 Articles
The Indian Army has changed its social media guidelines, allowing soldiers to sign up for Instagram, but they will only be able to use it as a "passive observer" and will not be able to post or comment. Previously, soldiers could only use social media platform 'X'.
Indian Army relaxes social media rules for personnel, allows Instagram use with strict conditions
The Indian Army has revised its social media policy to permit personnel to access select platforms, including Instagram and X, while enforcing strict safeguards. Under the new guidelines, personnel are allowed only to view and monitor content and are barred from posting, in order to safeguard operational security. Indian Army issues policy on use of social media applications like Instagram and others, allowing personnel to access Instagram for "…
Indian Army's rules for personnel on use of Instagram, WhatsApp: 'Only monitor, no comments'
The Indian Army has issued a social media policy that allows personnel to access Instagram for viewing only. Messaging apps can be used for unclassified information with known contacts, it said, adding that other platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn have restricted uses.
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