Iranians are actively seeking out virtual private networks in large numbers in an effort to circumvent government restrictions of social media sites like Instagram and WhatsApp.

Demand for virtual private network apps has skyrocketed over 3,000% in Iran, researchers said, following Iranian authorities' attempts to block in-country access to WhatsApp and Instagram on Sept. 21. The government's latest censorship efforts come in response to the surge of protests that have continued throughout the country over 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of morality police in Iran. Amini was initially detained Sept. 13 by Tehran morality police, who enforce the Islamic Republic's strict dress code, for allegedly wearing the mandatory Islamic headscarf too loosely. She died three days later after falling into a coma. Police said Amini suffered a heart attack, though family members said Amini had no history of a heart condition. Her father said later that Amini had bruises on her legs. 

In Iran, the demand for virtual private network apps has increased by more than 3,000%, according to academics, as a result of efforts on September 21 by Iranian authorities to limit access to WhatsApp and Instagram domestically. 

Amini was first taken into custody by Tehran's morality police on September 13 for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's rigorous clothing code by donning the obligatory headscarf too loosely. 

She entered a coma and passed away three days later.Despite Amini's family's claims that she had no prior history of heart disease, police reported that she had a heart attack.

Amini's birthplace of Saqez, Kurdistan, saw protests break out on September 17 during her funeral, and they have since persisted all throughout Iran and the world. In response, the Iranian government has blocked a number of websites and throttled internet access during specific times. Iran has already blocked thousands of websites, and since 2016, censorship measures there have substantially increased.