Russia bans Reddit over magic mushroom post
Social network and entertainment site banned after failing to respond to government

Reddit has become one of the biggest websites yet blocked in Russia.
It was banned by censors because of a single post which described how to grow 'magic' mushrooms at home, says The Independent.
Russia's internet watchdog, Roskomnadzor (RKN), is notorious for blocking the sites of political opponents of Vladimir Putin – as well as those showing pornography or extremist views. The Jehovah's Witnesses are also proscribed online.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Now Reddit joins the list after a user posted a lengthy guide, in Russian, to growing psychoactive mushrooms at home.
The post went unnoticed by the authorities for two years, during which time it received just one 'upvote' and one comment from other users.
Because the ban is implemented by service providers, one by one, it comes in gradually. At the moment, many users can still see Reddit and the offending post, which has now received far more attention than it did before the authorities took notice.
RKN says it wrote to Reddit asking for the post to be removed and is instituting a ban because it didn't get any reply – and suggested this may be because Reddit staff are on holiday.
The watchdog said in a blog post: "We assume that the website is simply understaffed during the summer holidays, but this is no excuse to risk [losing] its entire audience [in Russia]." The agency then put its ban into practice.
Last month, RKN issued a similar warning to YouTube, claiming it might block the entire video-sharing site because of copyright-breaking uploads of the popular Russian TV series Fizruk (P.E. Teacher) and Chernobyl, said the Hollywood Reporter.
While YouTube moved quickly to remove the copyrighted material, RKN was apparently unhappy that users could immediately upload it again.
Following its standard procedure, YouTube would not act again until a further complaint was received. If its staff take extended summer holidays, they may return to find Russia has tuned out.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Assad's fall upends the Captagon drug empire
Multi-billion-dollar drug network sustained former Syrian regime
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published