Indian Army Soldiers Can Use Instagram, But There Are Conditions

In a significant policy shift, the Indian Army has amended its guidelines on social media usage, permitting personnel to engage with platforms like Instagram under tightly controlled conditions. This development, announced in December 2025, marks a departure from the stringent bans imposed in previous years, reflecting the military's evolving approach to digital connectivity amid growing cybersecurity threats. The revised rules allow soldiers and officers to access Instagram solely in a "view-only" or passive mode, enabling them to monitor content for informational and awareness purposes without any form of interaction. This includes prohibitions on posting, commenting, liking, sharing, reacting, or sending direct messages, ensuring that no sensitive information is inadvertently or deliberately disclosed.

The directive, issued by the Army Headquarters through the Directorate General of Military Intelligence (DGMI), emphasizes "passive participation" across several platforms. For Instagram, the order explicitly states, “No comments or views will be communicated on Instagram,” underscoring the Army's priority on protecting operational security. Similar restrictions extend to YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Quora, where users may only consume content to gain knowledge or information, with uploading user-generated material strictly forbidden. LinkedIn stands as an exception for professional use, allowing personnel to upload résumés or seek details on potential employers or employees, but only within those bounds.

Communication apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Skype are permitted for exchanging unclassified, general information, but only with verified known contacts. As one defence official noted, “The responsibility for correctly identifying the recipients lies with the users,” highlighting the onus placed on individuals to prevent mishaps. Broader prohibitions include avoiding VPN services, torrent websites, cracked or pirated software, anonymous web proxies, chat rooms, file-sharing platforms, and exercising extreme caution with cloud-based storage to mitigate security risks.

This policy revision comes against a backdrop of heightened concerns over digital vulnerabilities. Historically, the Indian Armed Forces have grappled with the dual-edged nature of social media. In the early 2010s, initial restrictions were imposed due to fears of data leaks and operational compromises, with a complete ban on personnel's presence on social platforms enacted briefly before being revoked as the strategic value of these tools became apparent. By 2018, seminars and deliberations, such as those organized by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), advocated for a more enabling framework, recognizing social media's role in perception management, information warfare, and public engagement. The Indian Army's official accounts grew rapidly, ranking highly globally on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, signaling a shift toward active exploitation for official purposes.

However, escalating threats led to a rollback in July 2020, when all officers and soldiers were directed to delete their Facebook and Instagram accounts, alongside banning 89 mobile applications—many linked to China—amid border tensions and national security directives. This blanket restriction was driven by multiple incidents of foreign espionage, particularly "honey traps" orchestrated by Pakistani intelligence agencies like the ISI. In these schemes, spies pose as attractive individuals—often women—on social media to befriend and extract sensitive information from military personnel.

Notable cases illustrate the persistent dangers. In 2019, over 50 Indian soldiers were reportedly honey-trapped by a fake Facebook profile named "Anika Chopra," claiming to be an Army nurse, leading to leaks of classified data. That same year, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad identified 125 suspicious Facebook profiles suspected of being ISI plants targeting security forces. More recently, in 2023, Army soldier Shantimay Rana was arrested for sharing military secrets after being lured via social media. In 2024, DRDO scientist Nishant Agrawal and Indian embassy employee Satendra Siwal faced similar charges, with Siwal allegedly compromising documents after being honey-trapped by a woman on social platforms. These incidents, often starting with innocuous interactions like missed calls or friend requests, have resulted in arrests and highlighted how adversaries use data mining, phishing, and geotagging to exploit unwitting users.

The 2025 update seeks to address these risks by allowing controlled access, enabling personnel to flag disinformation and stay abreast of hybrid warfare tactics without active involvement. As retired Lt Col Abhinav Navneet commented on the policy, "This is not a restriction; this shows the fact that the Indian army is ready to counter hybrid warfare, propaganda... of the digital age." The policy also aligns with global practices, such as the US Department of Defense's guidelines or China's outright bans, adapting to India's context of over 1.15 million soldiers navigating a hyper-connected world.

Enforcement remains a challenge, with the policy relying on self-regulation and unit-level monitoring. Recommendations from past analyses, including dedicated training on privacy threats and the establishment of information warfare cells, are integral to implementation. While the change has been welcomed for promoting digital literacy, critics argue it may still expose vulnerabilities if not paired with robust cybersecurity education.

Looking ahead, this policy could evolve further with advancements like AI-driven monitoring and Big Data analytics to predict threats. For now, it represents a pragmatic step, ensuring the Indian Army remains vigilant in both physical and digital battlefields.

Summary of Allowed Platforms and Permissions

This table encapsulates the core permissions, drawing from the revised guidelines to provide clarity for personnel.

In conclusion, while the policy opens a narrow window for social media use, it reinforces the Army's commitment to discipline and security in an increasingly online world.