Taliban encouraging content creators to reshape Afghanistan narrative

• The Taliban is granting influencers broadcasting licenses to reshape Afghanistan’s image, but critical content is being removed from platforms like YouTube. This shift is part of a broader effort to promote tourism.
• Content creators are depicting a different side of Afghanistan, with some videos highlighting restrictive environments, especially for women.
• Despite strict media controls and human rights violations, the Taliban is trying to manage the narrative by reopening tourist sites and encouraging positive content.

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A growing number of YouTubers are traveling to Afghanistan to document their experiences under Taliban rule. Their videos, which showcase daily life, local culture and interactions with Taliban officials, are racking up hundreds of thousands of views.

Taliban grants influencers broadcasting licenses

The Taliban is now issuing broadcasting licenses to social media influencers, according to The Washington Post. These licenses put content creators on the same level as TV networks and radio stations. However, the licenses can be revoked if influencers violate Taliban rules.

At the same time, videos critical of the Taliban are reportedly being removed from YouTube. Ten content creators told The Post that YouTube had taken down their videos criticizing the Taliban.

According to Business Insider, the Taliban is actively promoting tourism through state-run media outlets. These efforts are part of a broader campaign to reshape Afghanistan’s image on the global stage.

YouTubers showcase “the other side” of Afghanistan

One YouTuber, known for traveling to lesser-known destinations, described his trip as a way to show “the other side” of Afghanistan. His videos highlight interactions with local men and explore how life has changed under Taliban rule.

In one clip, he jokes about the overwhelming male presence in public spaces.

His content also acknowledges the restrictions on women. In a video titled “Afghanistan has too much testosterone,” he discusses the challenges women face.

“When you see these young girls that are allowed to be girls, and then they come to a certain age, and just like that, everything is taken away from them.”

Afghan content creators join the conversation

Afghan-based influencers are also shaping the country’s online presence. Their videos feature interviews with Taliban officials, urban development projects, and entertainment content. The goal, according to The Washington Post, is to shift international perceptions of Afghanistan.

The Taliban has dramatically changed the country’s approach to media in recent decades. In the 1990s, the Taliban banned TV stations and gave citizens 15 days to dispose of their TVs or risk having them destroyed, according to a 1998 New York Times report.

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs lists Afghanistan as a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” country. It warns of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and limited health facilities.

Life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule

Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed strict policies, particularly on women and the media.

• Education restrictions: According to UNESCO, the Taliban has banned 1.4 million girls from attending school beyond sixth grade.
• Employment bans: Women are prohibited from working in most government and private-sector jobs.
• Media suppression: A United Nations report from November 2023 documented 336 human rights violations against journalists and media workers, including arbitrary arrests, torture and restrictions on press freedom.

A new image or a controlled narrative?

At the same time, the Taliban has reopened tourist sites and is actively working with content creators to shift Afghanistan’s image.

As more influencers visit the country, the question remains—are they revealing an unseen side of Afghanistan, or are they part of a carefully managed PR strategy?