Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service owned by Facebook Inc (FB.O), has been blocked in China, according to numerous reports, including from Hong Kong-based reporters with the New York Times.
The company did not immediately return requests for confirmation.
The reports came amid pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, where many have posted photos and videos, including of Hong Kong police firing tear gas at demonstrators.
Many of the photos were labeled with the hash tag "Occupy Central," a phrase that was blocked on Sunday on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. It had been allowed earlier in the day.
The website www.blockedinchina.net also indicated that Instagram was blocked across China, including in Beijing and Shenzhen.
If the site was blocked in China, that would not prevent users in Hong Kong from posting on social media, nor users in other countries viewing the images.
Students are risking their FUTURE to fight for universal suffrage that was promised. The least you guys, who live in a democracy, can do is raise awareness and support the cause.
I am a Hongkonger. It is really sad to see the protest turns out like this. Those police attack the students without any weapons. The roads have alreay blocked and the protesters cannot go anywhere.
Thanks for your support. We really need your awareness and spread the message out. Those students are not brainwashed. They are all fighting for democracy.
Used,not brainwashed. You can watch the interview on the street. They speak poor English.They can't even tell what they really want very clearly. I bet some of them just don't want to go to school/work.
U wish.China is rising so fast. HK won't survive.
I bet some of them just don't want to go to school/work. 