Instagram to be banned in Russia as of Monday

NEW YORK, March 12 (MENA) - The Russian government announced Friday that Instagram will be banned in Russia after parent company Meta said it would temporarily allow users affected by the military operation in Ukraine to write posts calling for violence against "Russian invaders," CBS News reported.

Russia's state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, said in a statement that it would give Instagram users until midnight on Monday, March 14, to transfer their photos and videos to other platforms.

The country blocked access to Facebook and Twitter last week.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said the decision would affect 80 million users.

"This is wrong," he said in an emotional video posted to the platform, arguing that banning Instagram is "cutting off millions of people from loved ones and friends around the world."