YouTube was initially banned in Turkey including other social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. But the ban was lifted after 30 months, but not completely.
In some cities in Turkey, you will still find a ban on YouTube. In this guide, I will be discussing unblocking YouTube with the help of a VPN.
By using a VPN service (ExpressVPN is our top recommendation) you will not only be able to access YouTube but all the websites that are blocked in your region. You can check more best VPN services recommended by VPNRanks in 2023.
5 Easy Steps to Unblock YouTube in Turkey
Worried about YouTube being banned in Turkey? Don’t be! Here are 5 easy steps to snap censorship out of your life, for good. This method also works to unblock any website as well:
Step 1: Sign Up with ExpressVPN (Our top recommended VPN)
Step 2: Download and Install the ExpressVPN app on your preferred device
Step 3: Open the ExpressVPN by entering your username and password
Step 4: Connect to any server (preferably United States)
Step 5: Open the YouTube website and start streaming without a problem!
3 Best VPNs to Access YouTube in Turkey
Here is a list of the 3 best VPNs that will unblock YouTube or any other website that is blocked in your region:
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
- PureVPN
ExpressVPN is undeniably the best VPN and our top recommendation to unblock YouTube or any other website that is blocked in your country.
With its 3000 servers spread across 90+ locations, you can unblock anything. To access YouTube, we connected to its US server and easily unblocked YouTube and other YouTube platforms like YouTube TV and YouTube Music.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN to get a Turkish IP address, delivering exceptional IP-changing facilities and a browsing experience wherever you go.
With its powerful encryption, your IP address will remain hidden from the Turkish government, ISPs, or hackers and they won’t know what you are streaming.
You can use ExpressVPN on 5 multiple devices simultaneously and is compatible with almost every platform and operating system. With ExpressVPN, you get a 30-days money-back guarantee as well.
Digital Mayhem in Turkey
Many of you might have heard the rumors about the YouTube ban. Unfortunately, they aren’t just rumors.
In March 2014, entire Turkey witnessed an official YouTube blackout after YouTube users were found sharing insulting pictures of the Republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
After YouTube, social media websites like Twitter and Facebook were banned as well. Despite’s the court order to lift the ban, the Turkish officials weren’t in favor of lifting the ban.
The ban carried on for 30 months until it was lifted for good!
Possible Reasons for YouTube Turkey Blackout
There might be different reasons for which YouTube might have been banned in Turkey. The rumor that caught my attention other than the fact due to posting insulting images of Turkish founder, was the one representing the Turkey-Syria controversy.
It has been reported that the reason for blocking YouTube in Turkey was the controversial voice recordings made available to the public via YouTube.
These recordings had voices of senior officials who discussed possible military operations in Syria. Hence, it was a national security concern and a genuine reason to block YouTube, officials said.
The lifting of the ban was confined to YouTube removing the content that was shared publically, officials continued.
Also Read: Best YouTube VPNs for Turkey
Conclusion
It was a moment of celebration when the court announced its decision in favor of the Netizens. We all thought that the censorship concerns in Turkey have finally come to an end.
Unfortunately, nothing changed. YouTube is still banned in some cities in Turkey. As a matter of fact, the concerns became worse with the Twitter ban.
The only secure way to unblock YouTube in Turkey or any other website that is banned in your country is by using a VPN service. Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN.
