A new study by the Iranian digital rights monitoring organization Filterbaan finds that Iranians cut off from the global internet are experiencing growing isolation, anger, and depression. Based on interviews with adults and teenagers across multiple cities, researchers describe an 'existential divide' between citizens’ right to open access and the state-limited domestic network they are forced to use. Many respondents warned that prolonged restrictions could lead to rising suicide rates and increased migration.

Teenagers and students report losing vital spaces for learning, creativity, and connection. Domestic platforms are described as slow and unreliable, limiting effective education and communication. Many young users say they self-censor out of fear of surveillance, speaking in coded language and avoiding sharing images, which researchers warn could normalize restricted communication for the next generation.

High costs for virtual private networks have deepened inequality, leaving many working-class and older Iranians unable to access the broader internet. Some households spend large portions of their income to stay connected, while others abandon online access entirely. Nearly all interviewees said the restrictions have worsened their mental health and intensified thoughts of leaving the country, as digital isolation compounds existing social and economic pressures.