Job Discussion Forums

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

Looks like facebook is blocked again. Zing news in the VN language has a story on it, apparently the govt is putting out the story that the young people are using it for decadent discussions, along with a slight hint of a political angle as well. I noticed that they could not get on starting on the same day that the Brazilians started rioting last week. Those riots had a social media component to them, which is pretty common now in these nations where the people are trying to rise up. My guess is the VN see that these kinds of sites are going to be an important part of the manifestation of political unrest worldwide, and so now is the time to try to block those kinds of sites. Of course, they have blocked fb in the past, only to let it come back up.

By the way, I have noticed that the BBC site is blocked in the south, but not in the north. Seems that has been the case for quite some time now. Hard to understand the logic on that.

deadlift · Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 267

There was also a couple of bloggers arrested last week when I first noticed it was blocked again.

The other thing is that no one with half a clue will actually be prevented from using it, but they will be annoyed at the unnecessary hassle and be exposed to the gov's ineptitude.

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 181

I can access FB through my computer, but not my mobile devices. I don't think they have the digital infrastructure or resources to completely block it from everyone in Vietnam.

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

I've even had access problems using common proxy sites. One strange trick that works for now is that you can log in to your account on your laptop/desktop using facebook mobile site. Not very user friendly but works. At lest for me.

Anyone think that uncle sam's all seeing eye on facebook, phones, etc might also be a reason for recent clamp down?

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

I haven't been able to get on FB for a while. I could I suppose if I made the effort but frankly there is nothing on FB I want to see all that much - so it some ways it just saves me from wasting more time online than I already do.

I don't think this is the place to discuss the merits or demerits of FB blocking.

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

kurtz · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 518 Location: Phaic Tan

TRH · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 340 Location: Hawaii

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

It's not possible for the government to stop its citizens from getting on facebook at this point. Every single one of my students uses it, and they all have downloaded programs that get them around the filters. I'm not just talking about city students either. I teach a few classes funded by NGOs with students from the poorest villages in Vietnam, and they all have facebook too.

I don't really know why they even bother anymore. Are they really that out of touch with their people?

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

Something in Vietnam that doesn't make sense - quelle surprise!

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:41 am Post subject:

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

If China can do it, then so can Vietnam? I beg to differ.

I'm With Stupid · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 432

I haven't had any problem getting on Facebook or the BBC for over a year. Certainly not this week any time.

Anh Dep · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 56 Location: Bangkok Thailand

Facebook seems to be a site where people want to post the most uninteresting,bland,uninformative rubbish. I really dont need to know that its raining at someones house and they are sad.Many young Vietnamese here ask me if I have Facebook, I just say I dont use it.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:32 am Post subject:

A few posters have mentioned that they think Facebook is a waste of time etc. and that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I personally quite like Facebook and I log-in to it usually at least once a day.

As others have stated, it's not hard to get around the Facebook censorship. If you are interested, you can just do a search on YouTube and it will give you step-by-step guides on exactly how to circumvent it. In short, how to access Facebook here is not exactly a secret and, like deadlift said, the Government IMHO are just making fools of themselves with this policy.

Although the Facebook 'ban' doesn't affect me at all, to be honest, I don't particularly like being told what websites, books etc. I can and cannot access. Don't get me wrong, this policy doesn't surprise me in the least but, in my view, it is a sign of weakness, not strength and, the fact they can't even ban it effectively, just makes them look doubly ridiculous IMHO.