Photo-sharing website Pinterest is now inaccessible in mainland China, according to censorship watchdog websites greatfirewallofchina.org and blockedinchina.net.

Watchdog greatfire.org reported that the San Francisco-headquartered website has been inaccessible in the mainland since last Thursday.

pinterest china censorship

Users of Chinese social media platform Weibo expressed shock and disappointment.

“Mainland designers like us now have one less way of surviving,” wrote Weibo user Odbdhd.

“I used to joke that having Pinterest meant having the entire world,” wrote Weibo user Luyingsang. “Today I found that I couldn’t use Pinterest anymore!”

pinterest china

Pinterest follows a long line of international social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to be blocked by China’s “Great Firewall,” which refers to the Communist Party’s technological and legislative efforts to regulate the internet.

Websites of Hong Kong and international media outlets – including HKFP – have been blocked, as well as social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Elson Tong is a graduate of international relations and former investigations consultant. He has also written for Stand News.