Iran's Internet Blackout Silences Domestic Voices as Diaspora Creators Fill the Void
Iranian American social media creators are increasingly leading the online conversation about the war in Iran, as a government-imposed internet blackout stifles communications from within the country. This digital shutdown has amplified the voices of those abroad, who are now explaining Iran's complex history and the conflicting desires of its citizens through widely shared videos.
Challenges in Accessing Reliable Perspectives
New York-based creator Ariana Afshar, with around 350,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, has attempted to produce commentary based on perspectives from people in Iran. However, she faces significant obstacles due to the blackout, which makes it nearly impossible to reliably survey opinions from inside the nation where she lived as a teenager and still has family. In rare moments when she can reach relatives, they are often too afraid to share their true feelings about the war and the government.
Afshar noted, "I think it's a huge problem among the Iranian diaspora, where they speak for Iranians a lot. I don't want to fall into that." Her online activity primarily critiques pro-war perspectives based on her experience growing up in both countries. The absence of firsthand accounts from Iran has heightened the influence of diaspora creators, catering to surging demand for information in the U.S., where online searches like "why are we at war with iran" increased by 3,000% in early March, according to Google Search Trends.
Disinformation and Emotional Circulation
Babak Rahimi, an Iranian professor at the University of California San Diego, highlighted that the diaspora's role is less about information and more about the circulation of emotions. In many conflicts, citizens supplement official reporting with social media accounts, but digital blackouts and fear of retaliation have severely limited this in Iran. While outlets like The Associated Press use satellite imagery and verified user-generated content, bad information thrives on platforms like Telegram, where inaccurate content is easily shared.
Houman Hemmati, a war supporter who left Iran after the 1979 revolution, pointed out that disinformation includes fake firsthand accounts from the Iranian government aimed at riling up Americans. False information favoring the U.S. has also proliferated, such as videos falsely claiming Iran was behind a strike on an elementary school that killed over 165 people. A preliminary U.S. military investigation suggests outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. carrying out the strike.
Family Connections and Narrative Wars
A 35-year-old Iranian in New York, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation against relatives, described how family WhatsApp chats have become crucial for news scraps during brief connection opportunities. Messages from a cousin in Tehran during bombing raids asked, "Where did they hit?" and noted, "Everything I watch is just smoke and explosions." These chats also host debates over Iran's future, but there's a stark contrast between U.S.-based relatives discussing abstract politics and those in Iran living the reality daily.
Ciara Moezidis, a 26-year-old creator born in the U.S., mentioned that a "narrative war" has long existed among the diaspora, which includes about 750,000 people in the United States according to Pew Research. Her Instagram following grew by 2,000 since January when she started posting in support of Iranian protesters and against the war. She expressed exhaustion, saying, "It's been incredibly exhausting to navigate this while seeing bombs drop across Iran and not being able to reach our families."
Hope for Future Connections
Zoya Biglary, an Iranian American creator with over 600,000 Instagram followers, hopes Iranians will eventually see the outpouring of support for their struggle. She suggested, "Maybe they're looking for proof that someone on the outside kind of sees their humanity." As the blackout persists, diaspora creators continue to fill the informational void, though their disproportionate influence exacerbates rifts within the community and highlights the challenges of accessing authentic voices from Iran.
