Video games have consistently gained popularity around the world. Some of the most popular video games are filled with violence, sexual scenes, drug use, and other mature situations, earning the game a ban or censoring in several nations. However, some games have received a country-wide ban for shocking reasons. Here are ten video games that are surprisingly banned around the world.

Related: 10 Video Game Secrets We Wish We Never Found

10 Crash Bandicoot 2 (Japan)

It’s hard to believe that Crash Bandicoot would have content that was so unsuitable that it would be banned, but it was in one country. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back was banned in Japan for a death animation. In the game, Crash is squashed into a stunned, floating head with feet. Seems harmless, but Japan stated that it resembled the Kobe child murders, which was a series of child killings that occurred in Kobe, Japan.

The game was initially banned by Japan, but the developers didn’t want to cause any controversy and decided to alter the animation for the Japanese version of the game. The Japanese version of the game shows Crash redesigned to appear less aggressive and cuter. There were also other small changes to make the game more lighthearted for Japanese gamers.^[1]

9 The Guy Game (United States)

The Guy Game, released in 2004 by TopHeavy Studios, was a trivia game that allowed up to four players to complete multiple-choice questions and mini-games. While all of this is going on, there is filmed live-action footage of bikini-clad women on spring break. Players are trying to accumulate points that go toward the Flash-O-Meter, which progressively removes censorship of women exposing their breasts. Sure, it’s not a game you wanted your mom to know about, but the gameplay is warranted for a ban, right?

Footage for the game was filmed on South Padre Island during spring break in 2003. They went around trying to pay women to expose their breasts for the camera, and the footage was used for the video game. A guy playing the video game discovered his underage sister topless during gameplay, and the discovery led to a lawsuit against the game.

The unidentified woman gave producers a fake identification card and inconsistent information for media release. She sued the developers and publishers for breach of privacy and emotional distress. The lawsuit led to a temporary injunction against any further distribution, which led to TopHeavy Studios ceasing further sales of the video game.^[2]

8 Mass Effect (Singapore)

Mass Effect is a video game about a civilization that is threatened by an advanced machine race better known as the Reapers. The action role-playing game was originally released in 2007 for the Xbox 360. It debuted at #6 on the video games sales chart in the United States, and it also won several awards, including Best RPG at the IGN Best of 2007 Awards and Game of The Year by the New York Times. Even though the game was a huge hit, censorship kept it off the shelves in Singapore.

The video game had an optional subplot that allowed the player to develop a relationship with a non-player character. If the relationship grew stronger, scenes would show sexual activity with partial nudity. Singapore was the only nation that had a problem with the game and banned the game for same-sex love scenes between a human woman and an alien female. The Singapore Media Development Authority later reversed its decision and allowed the game to be released with an M18 rating.^[3]

7 Pokémon Go (Iran)

Pokémon Go introduced a new generation to the popular franchise while bringing nostalgia to old fans. The game makes you a trainer, and you must get out and be active to try to “catch ’em all.” The game was new and exciting in so many ways, but one country had one major issue with the mobile video game.

Iran made the decision to ban Pokémon Go due to unspecified security concerns. Iran’s High Council of Virtual Spaces believed the game’s usage of maps and geolocation data presented a security issue for the people of the country. Other countries and cities around the world have expressed their concerns with the game, but Iran was the first country to place a ban on the game.^[4]

6 Football Manager 2005 (China)

Football Manager 2005 was released in 2004 as a football (or soccer for Americans) management simulation video game. Players take the reign of a professional football team and try to coach them to a championship by managing team finances, signing new players, and giving the team pep talks. The game is supposed to simulate the real-world management of a team. What could be so controversial about a sports management game?

China found out that Taiwan and Tibet were listed as separate countries in the game, which led to a country-wide ban. They believed the game’s content was harmful to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. SEGA announced that a Chinese version would be released with Taiwan included as part of China. The game went on to earn excellent reviews from most critics and gaming sites, including an 89 out of 100 by both GameRankings and Metacritic.^[5]

5 Animal Crossings: New Horizons (China)

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a social simulation game for the Nintendo Switch and is the fifth game in the Animal Crossing series. Players live on a deserted island and work to develop a town as they progress. The game is pretty chill as players walk around and catch bugs, water plants, and try to build a peaceful town, but China somehow found a reason to ban the game.

Players in the game have the ability to create custom graphics and meet up with other players virtually. Some banners created by users included images of the Chinese President and phrases such as “Free Hong Kong.” Images such as these are considered offensive and led to the country-wide ban.^[6]

4 Pokémon (Saudi Arabia)

Pokémon took over the world in the ’90s with the hit TV show, trading cards, and Game Boy video games. Their products made their way to store shelves all around the world… except in Saudi Arabia. The country stated that the games promote Zionism and involve gambling. The religious authority claimed that the video game and trading cards contain un-Islamic symbols, including the star of David.

It was compared to gambling due to the competition that involves money being exchanged between card collectors. The franchise has been critiqued by several other countries with partial bans and censoring. Nintendo released a statement saying that they didn’t create any symbols with religion in mind, and they promised to investigate all claims.^[7]

3 EA Sports MMA (Denmark)

MMA can be a brutal sport as two fighters rip into each other, leaving blood pouring into the ring. When EA Sports MMA was released in 2010, Denmark decided to place a ban on the game, but not for the bloody violence.

Denmark decided to not allow the release of the video game due to the marketing of energy drinks. Their law prohibits the marketing of energy drinks. EA decided not to change the product placement of energy drinks on fighters’ shorts and in the ring, but instead, they decided not to release the game at all in Denmark.^[8]

2 The Sims 4 (Uzbekistan)

The Sims 4 is a life simulation game that allows users to create characters, build homes, and live in a world full of imagination. The game features mild violence and gore, mild drug use, mild sexual situations, and some intense scenes, earning it a T for Teen rating in the United States. These features were more than enough to earn a ban from Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan banned The Sims 4, along with 33 other video games, for distorting values and threatening stability. The games are believed to be used to propagate violence and threaten security. Their government also didn’t want these games to distribute false information about the country’s history and culture. The ban is also a result of their government trying to keep young people away from “destructive” influences.^[9]

1 Mario Kart Tour (Belgium)

The last game you would think to find on this list is a first-party Nintendo game, but somehow Mario Kart Tour found a way to earn a ban. Belgium made the decision to ban the video game due to loot boxes that did not comply with local gambling regulations. Players could spend real money on loot boxes without knowing the contents of the loot boxes, which is associated with gambling in Belgium.

The Netherlands joined Belgium in banning the game unless the company selling them has a gambling license. The Norwegian Consumer Council also called the loot boxes manipulative and exploitative. Nintendo even faced a lawsuit in the United States after a young gamer claimed the loot boxes encouraged addictive behavior just as gambling. Nintendo made the decision to remove loot boxes from Mario Kart Tour in 2022. Who knew that Mario Kart could rev up so much controversy.^[10]

While the internet is often seen as a global resource, not all websites are available to users worldwide. Due to cultural, political, or regulatory reasons, several well-known U.S. websites are restricted or banned in certain countries, blocking millions from accessing content that many Americans take for granted. From social media platforms to major news outlets, these websites have been shut out in regions where governments are wary of their influence or content.

This list delves into ten popular U.S. websites that have faced bans or heavy restrictions around the world.

Related: 10 Pop Songs Banned by Governments

10 Facebook

Facebook, one of the world’s largest social media platforms, has been banned in several countries, most notably China and Iran, and is partially restricted in North Korea. In China, Facebook was blocked in 2009 following the Urumqi riots, with the government claiming that the platform was being used to organize anti-government activities and spread unrest. The Chinese government maintains a high degree of control over its citizens’ access to information, fearing that platforms like Facebook could be used to criticize the government or organize protests.

Instead of Facebook, Chinese users have access to local alternatives like WeChat and Weibo, both of which are monitored and regulated by Chinese authorities. WeChat serves as an all-encompassing app for communication, payments, and social networking, allowing the government tighter control over digital activities. For the Chinese government, restricting Facebook and encouraging the use of homegrown apps helps maintain social stability and allows for greater oversight of citizens’ online interactions.^[1]

9 YouTube

YouTube, the go-to platform for video content, has faced bans and heavy restrictions in countries such as China, North Korea, and, at times, Pakistan. Pakistan initially banned YouTube in 2012 after the release of the controversial video Innocence of Muslims, which was deemed offensive to Islam and led to violent protests across the country. Pakistan eventually lifted the ban in 2016 after Google assured the government it would remove certain offensive content. In China, YouTube is banned entirely as part of the government’s broader censorship efforts, which aim to control politically sensitive information. Recently, even Russia has begun efforts to ban YouTube.

In countries where YouTube is restricted, local alternatives often take its place. For example, in Pakistan, the government actively monitors video content, and apps like Dailymotion or Vimeo serve as popular substitutes. In China, domestic platforms like Youku and Bilibili provide similar content, albeit with heavy censorship. These local platforms allow governments to filter and regulate video content more effectively, which is essential in regions where online media is tightly controlled to maintain government narratives.^[2]

8 Twitter/X

Twitter… uh, X, known for its fast-paced, open platform, is banned or heavily restricted in several countries, including China, North Korea, and, until recently, Nigeria. In China, Twitter has been banned since 2009, with the government citing the platform’s potential to incite social unrest. China’s authorities are wary of Twitter’s ability to rapidly spread information and its appeal for organizing protests. North Korea, on the other hand, blocks Twitter entirely as part of its policy of isolating citizens from outside influences. Brazil has also recently banned X in a feud with Elon Musk over political content on the platform.

During Nigeria’s ban on Twitter in 2021, the government cited the platform’s alleged interference in Nigerian domestic issues after Twitter removed a controversial tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria eventually lifted the ban after Twitter agreed to certain conditions. In China, Sina Weibo functions as the country’s answer to Twitter, but with stringent monitoring and censorship. This reliance on domestic alternatives allows governments to offer a similar service while ensuring that posts align with national interests and narratives.^[3]

7 Google Search

Google Search is one of the most widely used search engines globally, but it has been banned in China since 2010. The Chinese government initially allowed Google to operate in a heavily censored form, but Google decided to withdraw after refusing to comply with demands to censor search results further. This move followed a series of cyber-attacks allegedly targeting human rights activists’ Gmail accounts, which led to increased tensions between Google and the Chinese government. China’s decision to ban Google Search is part of its strategy to control the flow of information within the country.

Since then, Baidu has become China’s most popular search engine, offering a similar service but within the government’s strict regulatory framework. Baidu censors’ results were related to sensitive topics, such as the Tiananmen Square protests and the Tibetan and Taiwan independence movements. The ban on Google Search underscores China’s commitment to keeping information flows in check and promoting domestic platforms that are more compliant with government interests, showing how censorship shapes even the most basic internet functions. ^[4]

6 Wikipedia

Wikipedia, the world’s largest open-source encyclopedia, has been banned or restricted in countries like Turkey (until recently) and China. Turkey banned Wikipedia in 2017, accusing it of hosting articles suggesting that Turkey supported terrorist groups, an accusation that the government vehemently denied. This ban lasted nearly three years until Turkey’s highest court ruled that it violated freedom of expression. In China, Wikipedia remains banned due to its articles on politically sensitive topics, including human rights abuses, Tibet, and the history of the Communist Party.

The decentralized nature of Wikipedia, where contributors from around the world can edit and publish information, makes it difficult for governments to control content. In China, people turn to Baidu Baike, a government-approved online encyclopedia that offers similar information but with state oversight. This censorship approach allows governments to limit access to unregulated information, controlling narratives and preventing citizens from accessing perspectives that might challenge official state positions.^[5]

5 Reddit

Reddit, often called “the front page of the internet,” is banned in China and has faced temporary restrictions in countries like Indonesia. China blocks Reddit due to its decentralized, user-driven content, which can easily delve into controversial topics that challenge government narratives [LINK 6]. Indonesia also briefly restricted Reddit due to its allowance of explicit content and discussions that contradict local cultural norms, but later lifted the ban with certain content filtering requirements in place.

In China, popular forums like Baidu Tieba offer similar functions but are tightly monitored by government censors. These forums avoid politically sensitive or culturally taboo topics, maintaining an environment consistent with the government’s internet regulations. Reddit’s ban reflects how governments prioritize control over online discourse and aim to restrict platforms that offer unrestricted freedom of expression.^[6]

4 The New York Times

The New York Times, a globally respected newspaper, is banned in China, where authorities object to its investigative reporting on sensitive topics, such as Chinese leadership, political corruption, and human rights issues. The ban began in 2012 after the Times published an exposé detailing the wealth of former Premier Wen Jiabao’s family, a story that embarrassed the Chinese government and prompted swift retaliation. Since then, the Times has faced ongoing restrictions as Chinese authorities aim to limit access to foreign journalism that may criticize or scrutinize government actions.

Chinese readers seeking global news often turn to government-approved publications like the Xinhua News Agency or Global Times, which provide news through a state-approved lens. The Chinese government’s crackdown on foreign media outlets highlights its desire to shape public perception and ensure that journalism aligns with national interests. The restriction on the New York Times demonstrates the challenges that independent news organizations face in countries with strict media control.^[7]

3 Dropbox

Dropbox, a popular cloud storage service, has been banned in China since 2014 due to concerns over data privacy and government control. Chinese authorities worry that Dropbox’s encryption makes it impossible to monitor, potentially allowing citizens to store or share information the government deems inappropriate or dangerous. Unlike other tech companies, Dropbox has not created a censored version for the Chinese market, choosing instead to maintain its commitment to user privacy.

China’s answer to Dropbox is Baidu Cloud, which offers similar services but complies with local data regulations that allow government access to stored data when needed. The Dropbox ban illustrates the clash between international tech companies’ data protection policies and governments’ demand for surveillance, especially in countries where control over online content is strict.^[8]

2 PayPal

PayPal, the global online payment system, was not outright banned but faced suspension in Turkey in 2016 after failing to comply with local data storage laws. Turkish regulators required all payment processing companies to store customer data locally, a rule that PayPal was unable to meet with its existing infrastructure. As a result, PayPal ceased its operations in Turkey, leaving Turkish users without one of the most popular digital payment platforms in the world.

Since then, local alternatives like Iyzico and Papara have filled the gap left by PayPal’s exit. Turkey’s insistence on data localization reflects a broader trend among countries looking to assert control over digital financial transactions and customer data. PayPal’s struggle in Turkey underscores the challenge for international companies trying to comply with varying regulatory standards while maintaining operational efficiency.^[9]

1 WhatsApp

WhatsApp, the popular messaging app known for its end-to-end encryption, has been banned or heavily restricted in countries like China, North Korea, and parts of the Middle East. China, in particular, has restricted WhatsApp since 2017, claiming the app’s encryption poses a national security threat by preventing the government from monitoring messages. End-to-end encryption is also frowned upon in countries where government surveillance is prioritized.

In China, WeChat, a government-approved messaging app, serves as the primary alternative. WeChat offers messaging, social media, and payment services, all of which the government can monitor more easily. The WhatsApp ban is a clear example of how encryption technologies can clash with national security policies, especially in countries where the government seeks full control over communication channels.^[10]

Horror games are no stranger to controversy, but these ten games took it a little too far, each crossing boundaries that got them banned or pulled from shelves around the world. From dystopian drug-induced joy to psychologically twisted survival games, these entries aren’t just scary to play—people were scared of what they could do.

Whether it’s Hotel 626’s eerie phone calls in the dead of night or Manhunt’s brutal, unapologetic violence, each game serves as a dark reminder of how far games and the gamers behind them can go.

Related: 10 Bizarre Urban Legends That Are Related to Video Games

10 Hotel 626

Let’s start with Hotel 626, the absolutely legendary web-based game that disappeared from the internet. Hotel 626 was released on October 31st, 2008, by none other than the company we all know and love, Doritos. Yes, I said Doritos. And yes, it is a horror game.

They wanted to revive their two dead flavors: Black Pepper Jack and Jack and Smokin’ Cheddar BBQ. Unfortunately, this was not a game about Cheddar Cheetah hunting you down and trying to kill you for eating his Cheetos. Instead, it was about waking up in a hotel that you found out pretty quickly that you didn’t want to stay at. You could only actually play it between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. (though I’ve heard the stories of people changing the time on their clocks to play it), ensuring you had the perfect eerie backdrop of darkness when you played.

The game had a creepy, unique style that used videos and photos of real people instead of 3D avatars. Your only mission was to escape while being hunted by ghosts, demonic infants, and a psychotic hotel maid. Easy, right? Well, it was apparently really hard due to the puzzles, specifically the one where you’re locked in with a starved-to-the-point-of-insanity man who will eventually escape and eat you alive.

However, the thing that actually killed the game itself was its collection of personal information. The game used things to send shivers down the players’ spines. It asked for your phone number at the beginning of the game in order to call you with a pre-recorded message during the allotted hours in the middle of the night that told you that you were still in the hotel, which is absolutely… great, yeah.

The second is used within the game. There was one particular part where you had to run away from a chainsaw-wielding maniac by finding a photograph that showed your own face from your webcam (or the hotel lobby if your webcam was off). However, as you were looking for your own face, you saw tens of other faces in your desperate escape. These faces were not actors but pictures taken of people in their own bedrooms reacting to the chainsaw maniac following them. Now, the only problem is that Doritos never asked the player for permission to use their webcam and pictures. Yikes.

This led to a panic from the legal department side of Doritos, and critics and privacy advocates pointed out the potential risks of hackers. Doritos eventually pulled the website from the internet to avoid being sued. Thus, they weren’t actually banned, but most likely were going to be, and they pulled the plug on themselves.^[1]

9 We Happy Few

We Happy Few transports players to an alternate 1960s England, a place where the streets are tidy, the colors bright, and everyone is, without exception, blissfully cheerful—or so it seems. The only thing that seems to keep the place running is “Joy,” a happiness pill designed to keep citizens smiling while erasing any uncomfortable memories of the past and everything that makes you you. Those who decide to stop taking Joy are labeled “Downers,” outcasts who are hunted down by the smiling authorities for “rehabilitation.” The game’s take on happiness, controlled by the iron fist of a drugged-up dystopia, poses an uncomfortable question: What’s the price of happiness if it’s manufactured? Turns out, it’s not pretty.

The story begins with Arthur Hastings, one of three characters you can control throughout the game. He discovers an old newspaper clipping that jogs his memory of events before Joy, spurring him to go off the drug and start seeing the crumbling reality around him. The town of Wellington Wells is bright on the surface, but for those not dosed up on Joy, the illusion fades quickly into a grim picture of societal and physical decay. Citizens go about their days in a forced euphoria, with the Joy-enforcing “Bobbies” smiling widely while clubbing anyone who dares to so much as frown. As someone who just watched Smile 2, I have an all-too-good vision of what this would be like in real life, and I don’t like it.

However, We Happy Few was a bit too dark. The game faced a temporary ban in Australia, where authorities claimed that its depiction of Joy might encourage substance abuse, echoing real-life concerns about drug normalization. The controversy highlighted the game’s balance between satire and shock value, as critics argued that its portrayal of forced happiness struck too close to reality. Yet supporters countered that the game isn’t about glorifying drug use—it’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of a society that sacrifices authenticity for the sake of fake positivity.

The ban was eventually lifted, as predicted in 2019. Its portrayal of a world addicted to false happiness simply points to our current social pressures to “just be happy.” By forcing players to choose between following the crowd or holding onto reality, the game poses an unsettling thought: can happiness be real if we don’t have a choice? And maybe more hauntingly, are we already swallowing our own version of Joy?

You might be able to tell I love this game’s concept.^[2]

8 Phantasmagoria

Imagine booting up your computer and stepping into the surreal, eerie world of Phantasmagoria. The game was definitely intended to keep you awake for hours after playing—or falling asleep to nightmares. Set in a massive, creaking mansion on a fog-draped coast, the game drops you into the life of Adrienne Delaney, a writer hoping to escape distractions with her husband in tow. As the days wear on, it turns out this mansion has more inspiration than she bargained for.

Slowly, Adrienne uncovers the twisted history of its former owner, a magician who dabbled in dark arts that left a lasting impression—and maybe a few curses behind. So much for inspiration, right? One of the game’s groundbreaking features was its usage of full-motion video (FMV), meaning real actors were filmed to play each character, adding a bit of raw realism that made each horrifying scene even more terrifying. Yay!

As Adrienne’s husband descends under the mansion’s spell, he transforms from her loving husband into a twisted and maniacal stranger. Love does drive you crazy, after all. The use of live actors brought an unsettling authenticity that caused horror fans to flock to the game in droves. With each sequence more gruesome than the last, the line between virtual horror and real-life terror became disturbingly thin. This live footage is also what paved the way for Hotel 626 just a decade later, and it’s what I have to personally thank for making horror games better.

When Phantasmagoria was released in 1995, it was met with a mix of fascination and outrage. Its unfiltered scenes of violence, supernatural possession, and psychological abuse quickly earned it a reputation as one of the most controversial games of its time. Critics were quick to condemn it as “too explicit,” arguing that some scenes were simply beyond the boundaries of good taste.

The now-infamous “head-in-the-blender” moment alone redefined how far horror could go in gaming, with fans eagerly replaying scenes while some critics wondered if they’d accidentally wandered into a horror film set. Australia, once again, was less enthusiastic, banning the game outright for being “too dark.”

Apparently, they didn’t care much for the murder, possession, or the infamous “head-in-the-blender” moment, a scene that truly redefines “blending genres.” But despite the ban, or maybe because of it, Phantasmagoria endures as a darkly beloved cult classic, known for taking horror out of the shadows and into a player’s lap—often a bit more literally than anyone expected.^[3]

7 Rule of Rose

Beneath the facade of its orphanage setting, Rule of Rose is anything but kid-friendly. Jennifer, the game’s protagonist, quickly learns that she’s the latest “lucky” entrant into the twisted social structure run by a gang of children who call themselves the Red Crayon Aristocrats. But this isn’t playtime with jump ropes and hopscotch. Unless you’re okay with the squares being replaced by symbols of ritual sacrifice. The “games” involve strange sacrifices and crazy rituals that make Jennifer the unwilling star player. Eventually, you’ll question if you liked the kids in Lord of the Flies better.

Rule of Rose achieves its horror by leaving most of the terror to the imagination and by hinting at everything behind the scenes. It leads to the feeling of cult-like control and a social hierarchy gone awry. While other games might use zombies or monsters, here, it’s the children themselves who set the stage for horror, forcing Jennifer into disturbing tasks involving cages, mutilated dolls, and animal sacrifices.

Each ritual drags her deeper into their twisted little “games.” As she endures ritual after ritual, she slowly uncovers twisted truths about the children, each task dredging up memories from her own traumatic past. It’s dark psychological horror at its finest—or worst, depending on how you feel about repressed memories resurfacing in the form of creepy lullabies. While this game was definitely more so on the violent side than the sexual side, some journalists claimed that the game had violent erotic undertones with underage girls. This, of course, caused the critics to make an even bigger uproar about the game, even getting the mayor of Rome and the EU involved in its release.

But it was Italy this time, not Australia, that took the largest issue with it. Italians bantered about banning it, saying that “Every frame is dripping with perversion.” Politicians in the UK fueled outrage over content they hadn’t even seen, based on rumors and worst-case guesses. It was eventually released anyway, but only in small amounts, making it a rare and expensive find today. The mix of eerie children, cult-like rituals, and symbolic violence even made sure it stayed off the shelves in several places.^[4]

6 Manhunt

Manhunt is what happens when someone decides a horror game can never be too bleak or too brutal. You play as James Earl Cash, a death row inmate given a second chance—though “second chance” is a bit generous when you’re dropped into a live-action snuff film. Cash’s director and “savior” is a shadowy figure who’s orchestrating every bloody detail for his own twisted film. From the moment Cash steps out of that prison van, his only goal is to survive the night by creatively dispatching a series of gangs—groups like the Hoods and the Smileys, each a little more colorful than the last in their own murderous way.

The game’s “murder with style” approach quickly grabbed attention, with every kill graded on a scale from “quick and clean” to “horrifyingly elaborate.” Manhunt doesn’t just let you eliminate enemies; it challenges you to do it with… pizzazz. Weapons range from plastic bags to nail guns, each lending a different flavor to your executions. The Director encourages the most vicious kills, rewarding Cash with higher scores for each gruesome masterpiece as he sneaks, creeps, and bludgeons his way through each gang. Art school really has changed, eh?

It was immediately banned in New Zealand, labeled as “grossly offensive,” which is just another way of saying they’d prefer it never see daylight. Australia pulled its rating with lightning speed, and the UK took it off shelves briefly after a real-life murder was initially linked to the game—a claim that was later disproven. The game was so infamous that critics quickly raised questions about whether Manhunt was even a game or just an interactive horror film.^[5]

5 Hatred

Hatred is, in a word, unapologetic. The main character (he has no name) wakes up, stares into the mirror, and, instead of making affirmations or grabbing a coffee, decides it’s time to kill everyone in sight. You play as “The Antagonist,” a nihilistic anti-hero clad in a leather trench coat who’s basically the twin of Bleach’s Yhwach. His whole mission? Complete destruction of anyone and everyone.

This game doesn’t mince words—or actions. In Hatred, there are no redemptive story arcs and no world-saving quests. The entire thing is a sandbox game where the goal is simply to be as destructive as possible. And while most games are like, “Hey, maybe save the city,” Hatred is more like, “Here’s your assault rifle, and maybe don’t forget the grenade launcher.” Each level is a parade of carnage as you roam a town that might as well have a banner reading “Welcome, We’re All Targets.” In-game scores even reward you for increasing mayhem, turning every quiet street into the world’s darkest block party.

The backlash? Immediate and intense. It was temporarily pulled from Steam Greenlight after complaints that the game “promotes wanton violence,” a charge that developers shrugged off with a “Yes, exactly.” And while Grand Theft Auto might get flak for “glamorizing crime,” Hatred threw its hands up and said, “Forget glamour, let’s just go all in.”

The developers state that the purpose of the game was to eliminate all the “fake philosophical stuff” thrown into games to justify their violence. The result? An unapologetic, chaotic game full of violence and animalistic nature. The game was banned in several countries, including Germany and New Zealand, and was widely labeled as irredeemably violent.^[6]

4 Mariam

Originally developed in Saudi Arabia, Mariam caused a stir almost as soon as it hit the app store. The game follows a young girl named Mariam who’s “lost” and asks the player for help finding her way home. But what starts off as a seemingly innocent interaction turns creepy fast. While guiding Mariam, players are prompted with increasingly personal and invasive questions, starting by stating she can read your mind by talking about trending news stories and then ending with a casual “Where do you live?”.

The game escalates through these bizarre, unsettling questions that make you wonder if Mariam is more of a stalker than a lost child. As the game progresses, it becomes less about helping Mariam and more about surviving her situation, making players feel like they’re stepping into a horror-themed therapy session they never signed up for.

What really ramped up the unease was the game’s tendency to ask for players’ location access, sparking rumors about potential surveillance and data collection. Reports swirled that Mariam might actually be tracking players, with each spooky message hinting at a ghostly GPS service run by Big Brother. The game wasn’t actually gathering any data, but the game’s eerie atmosphere and unsettling questions led to privacy concerns among players and their parents. It wasn’t long before the app felt less like a game and more like an interactive urban legend, where players were helping a lost girl… and giving her far more information than anyone should share with a haunted app.

In Saudi Arabia, Mariam sparked controversy, with concerned parents accusing the game of influencing children in unhealthy ways. Some even claimed that it promoted self-harm, though no evidence surfaced to support these allegations. Given the outcry, authorities acted swiftly, banning the app and issuing warnings about its “psychological impact” on young players. Apparently, the horror game had done its job a little too well, blurring the line between suspenseful gameplay and digital intrusion.

Mariam remains a curiosity, with its unsettling gameplay and strange mechanics drawing to those with a taste for the mysterious. But it’s more than just a horror game—it’s a digital campfire story that dares you to play and then leaves you wondering if you should have. In the end, Mariam became as much an urban legend as it was an app, proving that sometimes the scariest thing of all is realizing you’ve willingly handed your location to a creepy, fictional child.^[7]

3 Postal 2

Postal 2 is the video game equivalent of a fever dream had by someone who watched too many action movies on fast-forward. The game follows “The POSTAL Dude,” a guy who’s just trying to get through his week with simple errands like picking up milk, cashing a paycheck, and returning a library book. Sounds mundane, right? Wrong. Postal 2 gives you the option to complete each task peacefully or… not-so-peacefully. And by “not-so-peacefully,” we’re talking about flamethrowers, a shovel with a wickedly sharp edge, and a lot of chaos.

Set in a small desert town, Postal 2 doesn’t just allow for violence—it practically rolls out the red carpet for it. Almost every NPC has a quick insult ready if you look at them the wrong way, and the town is filled with groups like rampaging protestors and angry fundamentalists. If you thought going to the bank was stressful, Postal 2 makes it feel like a gladiator match. And just when you think it couldn’t get more absurd, the game hands you a health pack in the form of—you guessed it—catnip, which also doubles as a silencer if you attach a cat to the barrel of your rifle. Yes, Postal 2 is that kind of game.

Obviously, the response was explosive. Postal 2 was banned outright in New Zealand, where authorities labeled it “grossly offensive”—again! They really like that terminology, am I right? Australia followed suit, refusing it on the grounds of excessive violence and animal cruelty. Even in the U.S., it found itself in hot water, particularly within the court system, which pointed to it as proof that video games were steering the youth down a dark path. For once, the game’s creators didn’t argue, proudly marketing it as the game that will give the dark side of your imagination free reign.^[8]

2 Demonophobia

This RPG-visual novel hybrid throws you into a nightmare designed to test your mental stamina (and maybe your sanity). You play as Sakuri Kunikai, a 14-year-old girl. Without a clue as to where she is, Sakuri quickly realizes she’s in a world where everything has just one goal: to make her time here as torturous as possible.

What sets Demonophobia apart is that it doesn’t let you just get through the horror; it demands you watch it unfold in painstaking, pixelated detail. As if the silent, soundtrack-free gameplay weren’t ominous enough, the game makes every mistake lead to a new, disturbing death scene. Each creature has its own gruesome “surprise” for Sakuri. These vary from decapitation to death by slime (which somehow manages to be even worse than it sounds).

The game’s design pushes you to experience each death scene with the kind of loving attention to detail that could only come from a developer with a deep appreciation for Ryona-style brutality and gore. You could say that Demonophobia doesn’t just want you to play it; it wants you to suffer along with it.

By the time you reach Stage 4, things really start to get… weird. Sakuri faces off against grotesque bosses like Asmodeus, and with every level, the game finds new ways to make the whole experience feel progressively twisted. Sakuri, who is still 14, by the way, can lose her clothes, get ambushed by slimy creatures, or face certain “fan-service” moments that are despicable and disgusting to watch. While the game was made in Japan with a lower age of consent, it unsurprisingly caused outrage outside of the country.

Many countries banned it outright, not just because of the VERY questionable erotic scenes with a minor, but also because of the gore and its unapologetic way it served up horrific scenes without any clear purpose beyond shock value. Critics questioned whether it was a game or just a collection of gruesome animations in disguise. Still, Demonophobia still has its loyal fans, mainly in Japan, who are drawn to its sadistic challenges and the dark thrill of surviving each level. For those who make it through, it’s less “I beat the game” and more “I survived it.”^[9]

1 Euphoria

Euphoria, the darkest entry on our list, is an 18+ interactive visual novel game that walks a razor-thin line between psychological horror and boundary-pushing content. It leaves players to navigate an intensely disturbing plot that only gets darker the deeper they go. Set in an isolated, sterile white room, the game begins with protagonist Keisuke Takatou and six other women, five of his classmates, and one teacher, waking up in captivity with no memory of how they got there.

An anonymous speaker leaves them with a disturbing objective: only through a series of twisted and degrading “games” will they survive and escape. Each “game” unlocks a door, forcing players to decide how far Keisuke—and themselves—are willing to go to escape this nightmare. It’s a horror of the mind, with each task chipping away at the characters’ sanity and, frankly, the player’s as well.

Instead of jump scares, Euphoria focuses on psychological torment, making the characters’ physical and mental suffering disturbingly vivid. Keisuke is told to rape and sexually torment all the girls, most of who are also underage, I’d like to point out again, in the room in order to escape. Throughout the game, it becomes clear that each scenario is part of a larger mystery involving Keisuke’s own dark impulses as he constantly battles with his desire to go too far. The storyline gradually reveals more about each character’s background. The game does offer multiple endings, ranging from bleak to (relatively) redemptive, depending on the player’s choices.

While Euphoria is classified as a mature X-rated game, its usage of underaged girls, once again in Japan, makes the entire game even more unsettling and disturbing to play. Euphoria’s extreme content drew criticism for both its disturbing and erotic subject matter and its graphic depictions of violence. Many critics argue that the game crosses the line that no game should go. In reviews, some players admit that Euphoria is like watching a car crash: gruesome, horrifying, but hard to look away from.^[10]

Every now and then a show crosses a line in the sand and gets one of its episodes banned. Sometimes it’s for good reason, such as a health issue.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Movies That Have Been Banned Around The World

Sometimes the ban is based on current events and unfortunate timing. Sometimes there’s no good reason at all, and occasionally a show even willingly bans its own episodes!

From adult favorites to children’s cartoons, shows from all over the spectrum have found themselves on the wrong end of society’s sensibilities and been subjected to censure. Some even ended up censored on later releases on DVD and digital platforms.

These 10 episodes were banned from televisions across the world for reasons ranging from the reasonable to the insane, and I for one am delighted to share them with you!

10 Peppa Pig
“Mr. Skinnylegs”

If you have a child at home, you probably already know about Peppa Pig, the spunk little piglet who’s show revolves around teaching kids wholesome lessons about life and how to deal with fears. She’s also been the subject of many internet jokes and memes, bringing joy to people far beyond her typical audience.

Of course, as you guessed by her inclusion on this list, she also happens to have a banned episode.

The 2004 episode “Mr. Skinnylegs” is a seemingly harmless episode advising children not to be afraid of spiders, as they are more scared of you than you are of them, and won’t hurt you. Normally this message would be fine, and rings true enough…Unless, of course, you live in Australia.

In 2012, and again in 2017, the Australian Broadcasting Company banned the episode from airing on the Australian version of Nick Jr because of its “inappropriate message”. While to someone from the US or the UK, this might seem crazy, it’s important to note that Australia is home to massive, incredibly poisonous spiders such as the Redback Spider and the Sydney Funnelweb.^[1]

9 Pokemon
“Electric Soldier Porygon”

[WARNING: The above clip may trigger seizures.] Everyone knows Pokemon, the extremely popular game where you collect and battle cute little monsters to make them bigger and stronger. It also spawned many spin offs, several shows, a Japanese comic (called a manga), a card game, and tons of merchandise.

With such a massive, family friendly franchise, it’s hard to imagine they could do anything so bad they would get themselves banned from the airwaves, right?

Well, you are half correct! It wasn’t the story content of the episode, so much as the visuals. “Electric Soldier Porygon”, featuring the man-made Pokemon ‘Porygon’, had flashing and strobing lights to simulate a cybernetic explosion. This display caused over 600 children to need a trip to the hospital as the lights caused various illnesses ranging from nausea to seizures to temporary (but frightening) blindness!

Team Rocket couldn’t have come up with a better nefarious plot!^[2]

8 The X-Files
“Home”

The X-Files has never been one to shy away from horrible things. Monsters, mutants, and mayhem (oh, my!) abound in this show, both the original and the 2016 continuation. So it’s really no surprise that they would have found themselves on the wrong end of the banning stick when, in 1994, they released the episode “Home” onto TVs across the nation for the first time.

In the episode, a deformed baby is found buried in a baseball field in Mayberry, Pennsylvania. Mulder and Scully arrive (as is customary) to investigate, and soon uncover something much more awful than a monster or alien invasion: a family of inbred monster men whose matriarch, lacking arms and legs, lives under a bed in the family home.

The episode was so disturbing and received such strong backlash that it was immediately banned from the airwaves and received only one rerun, in October of 1999.^[3]

7 Sesame Street
The Entire Show

There’s nothing that really brings back the feeling of childhood quite like Sesame Street. The muppets, friendly kids, and reassuring adult characters bring back a feeling of safety and gentle nostalgia that wraps you in its arms like a warm hug.

There could be nothing worth banning about the show, right? I mean, it’s recommended showing to pre-school aged children as a primer for kindergarten, so surely it couldn’t be harmful!

Yet, in May of 1970, the state of Mississippi took a rather different view of the show. Citing its fully integrated cast of diverse characters and how that might clash with the views of the average Mississippian, the state of Mississippi actually banned the show from playing on state channels for 22 days.

While the ban was eventually reversed, it left a mark on the history of the show and the state.^[4]

6 Cow And Chicken
“Buffalo Gals”

Ah, the ’90s. Was there ever a better time for television? The answer is yes, but that’s neither here nor there. If you were a fan of cartoons in the late ’90s, you probably watched Cow And Chicken, a show about a pair of siblings, a heifer named Cow and a rooster named Chicken.

As was the style of the time, the cartoon was often crude, hiding adult jokes in plain sight and making various jokes about bodily functions, both human and animal.

One such joke crossed the line however, and ended with the episode being banned from the airwaves after just one airing! The episode, titled “Buffalo Gals”, was about a group of female bikers who wore buffalo head helmets, played softball, and broke into peoples houses to chew up their carpets. The episode, being chock full of innuendo as it was, aired once, and then was never seen again.^[5]

5 Family Guy
“Partial Terms of Endearment”

We all knew Family Guy was going to show up on this list sooner or later. How could it not, being one of the raunchiest, grossest adult cartoons of all time? You would think, given its history, that banned episode would revolve around Herbert the Pervert, or perhaps something to do with Quagmire’s many exploits (and exploitations).

It seems however that the straw that broke the FOX’s back wasn’t Quagmire or Herbert or even one of the many gross and outlandish adventures of Stewie, but instead an episode that tackled abortion and pro-choice vs pro-life views.

“Partial Terms Of Endearment” focused on Lois’s decision of whether or not to get an abortion after the couple she was going to surrogate for die in a car accident. The episode handles the topic in typical Family Guy fashion, with many jokes and jests at both sides of the argument. The episode was too much for FOX Network, however, who pulled it from airing before it could even run. While you can still get it on the DVD box sets, the episode is banned from public airtime.^[6]

4 The Amanda Show
“Episode 29”

Remember Amanda Bynes? ’90s Kids grew up tuning into her sketch show on Nickelodeon after school, watching her and her co-host Drake Bell put on a variety of sketches, mock interviews, and physical comedy bits for our collective amusement.

The ill fated banned episode, simply titled “Episode 29”, featured a skit called ‘The Lucklesses’, about a family with absolutely abysmal luck trying to go about their day, with various disasters culminating in their house being hit by a meteor.

The episode had the unfortunate luck itself of airing in March of 2001, just 6 months before 9/11. The episode was subsequently pulled from the air for fear of it resembling the Tower attack too much and was never shown in the US again.

Those Lucklesses really couldn’t catch a break, could they?^[7]

3 Married With Children
“I’ll See You In Court”

A beloved jewel of the 1980s, the well known sitcom Married With Children often used crude humor and remarks to tickle the funny bone of its home audience. For the most part, they were successful, but apparently one woman wasn’t laughing in January of 1998, when the show aired an episode titled “I’ll See You In Court”.

The episode shows the main characters suing the owner of a local hotel for filming their…intimate time, we’ll call it, without their permission. It also features a mention of homosexuality, and a woman removing her bra. While today that’s a big nothingburger, in the 1980s it was apparently so shocking that a Michigan woman had to start a letter writing campaign to FOX Network and its advertisers, demanding the episode be pulled and complaining of its disgusting and shocking contents.

Eventually, under pressure from its advertisers, FOX acquiesced to her demands, pulling the episode from the air.^[8]

2 You Can’t Do That On Television
“Adoption”

Is it any wonder that a show titled “You Can’t Do That On Television” would get at least one of its episodes banned? According to one of the show’s creators, Geoffrey Darby, it was very much a surprise.

The episode in question, titled “Adoption”, was about a couple who, as you may have guessed, had several adopted children. The children were poorly treated, but in a funny way as per the rules of comedy, slime was dumped on everyone, the audience laughed.

Or rather, the audience became quite upset, as the episode ended up pulled from the channel after many complaints were made. Darby himself notes that the episode went “too far”, and was pulled after airing “maybe once”.^[9]

1 South Park
“201”

South Park is the Holy Grail of offensive shows. Parodying and mocking anyone and everyone without limit or concern of consequence, South Park has been a stronghold of pure expression for 23 years, refusing to compromise on its jokes or values.

Until, that is, episode 201. Following directly on the heels of the story line of Episode 200, 201 was to feature the Super Best Friends, a team of religious icons acting as super hero’s, fighting against Tom Cruise and other celebrities looking to destroy the town of South Park and become exempt from criticism or ridicule.

The episode was most notable for featuring Muhammad, the prophet of Islamic faith who is not allowed to be depicted in any form. The episode, doing just that in reaction to the backlash to Muhammad’s previous appearance on the show, netted the network and creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker threats to life, limb, and bank account. While Stone and Parker would have gladly braved the storm for their art, the network was not convinced to do the same, and the showed was aired once, heavily edited, and then never again, even stripped entirely from digital platforms.^[10]

About The Author: Deana Samuels lives with her girlfriend and no cats, and has recently acquired a massive collection of Hello Kitty dolls and memorabilia. She hopes to one day achieve her dream of filling an house with plastic balls, like a Mickey D’s ball pit.

Would you ever expect a government to ban a family film from release? Since they are based at a young audience, family films usually do not contain content that would anger film censors. But these films—which certainly look “kid-friendly” on the surface—were prohibited from being screened in certain countries for surprising reasons that don’t always make sense. Is it true that you can find a controversy in everything? Or were these films banned for legitimate reasons? Let’s find out.

SEE ALSO: 10 Beloved Children’s Books Banned For Stupid Reasons

10 Every Marx Brothers Movie (Germany)

The Marx Brothers are a comedy staple. Between 1905 and 1949, they made thirteen feature films, several of which are considered the funniest movies of all time. But between 1933 and 1945, you couldn’t watch any of their films in Germany for one simple reason—the members of the famous comedy troupe were Jewish. However, Germany wasn’t the only country to ban the Marx Brothers’ films. Italy banned their 1933 film “Duck Soup” because Prime Minister Benito Mussolini viewed the film as a personal attack, and Ireland banned their 1931 film “Monkey Business” for appearing to promote anarchism (although they later permitted a cut version of the film).^[1]

9Beauty and the Beast, 2017 (Kuwait and Malaysia)

Controversy found its way to the 2017 “Beauty and the Beast” remake when, prior to the film’s release, director Bill Condon mentioned a “gay moment” in the film. Kuwait and Malaysia (both primarily Muslim countries) banned the film for its homosexual undertones, although the only “gay” activity actually appearing on-screen is a three-second clip of two men dancing. However, Malaysia later gave the green light to an uncut version of the film, released with a P13 rating, with the Malaysia Ministry of Home Affairs saying that “the gay elements in the film are minor, and [do] not affect the positive elements featured in the film”.^[2]

8 The Barnyard Battle (Germany)

Germany censored the 1929 Mickey Mouse short “The Barnyard Battle”, which features an army of cats fighting an army of mice, because the cats’ headgear resembles a German military helmet known as the “pickelhaube”. Both the United Kingdom and Germany banned another Mickey Mouse short, “The Mad Doctor”, for its horror elements.^[3]

7 Little Women (Manila)

In 1998, actress Claire Danes described Manila as “smell[ing] of cockroaches, with rats all over”, and made several other disparaging remarks about the city. Because of this, the Philippine government declared her “persona non grata” and Manila placed a ban on all films starring her, even “Little Women”, one of her best-reviewed films of all time as well as an established family classic. Although Danes later apologized for her comments, the ban on her films remains in effect.^[4]

6 Barney’s Great Adventure (Malaysia)

This one is a bit of a mystery. Malaysia banned the 1998 film “Barney’s Great Adventure” for being “unsuitable for children to watch”. Parents and educators have long criticized Barney for offering children “a one-dimensional world where everyone must be happy”, leading to several offensive parodies of the franchise, some of which resulted in legal cases. However, while Barney is one of the most hated franchises of all time, no reason was ever given for why exactly the movie was “unsuitable”.^[5]

5Abominable (Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia)

Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia all banned “Abominable”, a DreamWorks Animation film featuring the adventures of a Yeti and an adventurous girl. Why? Because the film uses a map which features a variant of the “nine-dash line”, a controversial demarcation line used to claim total Chinese ownership of a section of the South China Sea that multiple countries (including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia) have territorial claims over.^[6]

4Back to the Future (China)

China banned “Back to the Future” for depicting—of all things—time travel. The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television explained the ban by saying that time travel in media treats “serious history in a frivolous way, which should by no means be encouraged anymore”. The ban might not make very much sense, but, then again, neither did “Back to the Future”.^[7]

3 Wonder Woman (Arab League)

You probably would not be able to guess offhand why the Arab League banned “Wonder Woman”. Lebanon pulled the film from distribution because Gal Gadot, the lead actress, served for two years in the Israeli Defense Force and has expressed support for Israel on social media. Because of their history of conflicts with Israel, Lebanon bans the purchase of Israeli products (although Lebanon did allow the release of the film “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice” featuring Gadot, despite a movement to boycott it). Rania Masri, a member of the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel—Lebanon, said releasing “Wonder Woman” in Lebanon would be “normalizing relations with an enemy state”, something they refuse to do. Tunisia and Qatar also banned the film, for much the same reasons.^[8]

2 Shrek 2 (Israel)

While Lebanon banned “Wonder Woman” based on its lead, Israel banned a film for a completely different reason. Israel blocked the sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s popular film “Shrek” for a joke in the Hebrew dub about popular Israeli singer David Daor. Apparently because of the singer’s famed falsetto, a character threatens to emasculate another by saying “Let’s do a David Daor on him”. “This film intends to present me, in perpetuity, as a eunuch, a man with no testicles, and turn me into a laughing stock,” Daor said to an Israeli newspaper. A Tel Aviv District Court had the film removed from a handful of theaters before the distributors of the Hebrew dub decided to change the line to “let’s take a sword and neuter him”, satisfying Daor’s lawyers.^[9]

1 Christopher Robin (China and Taiwan)

This incident takes the number-one spot because it remains the only case in which a country blocked a film from release because of an Internet meme. That’s right, after a slew of memes spread by PewDiePie (banned for the same reason) in July 2017 comparing Chinese leader Xi Jinping to children’s book character Winnie-the-Pooh, China blocked references to Winnie on social media. This led to “Christopher Robin”, a film adapted from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, being denied a release in China.^[10]

About The Author: Izak Bulten is an animator and amateur film historian who loves writing articles about conspiracy theories, pop culture, and “crazy-but-true” stories. He’s created logic puzzles for World Sudoku Champion Thomas Synder’s blog, “The Art of Puzzles“, and the e-book “The Puzzlemaster’s Workshop”. More recently, he’s been writing animation news for his blog, “The Magic Lantern Show“.

Today, book bans are far more common than we’d care to think or admit. Every year hundreds of books are challenged in efforts to get them far away from the eyes of everyday citizens. The reason behind these bands can be a wide variety of things, depending on who’s attempting to ban the book. 

At its core, the practice of banning books is an effort to reduce the spread of certain things that people believe are unsuitable for society. Of course, this means things like violence, disrespect of authority (parents, police, political leaders, authority figures, etc.), and a host of other things. But the main reason why books get banned is to stop the spread of certain ideas. Some of these bans are benign, while others have serious consequences. Such as…

10. Maus

The banning of Maus is a rather new entry to the book-banning discussion. It’s also among the most high-profile examples of banned books in recent history. Maus is a graphic novel that was created by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman. It was serialized between 1980 and 1991. Spiegelman created the narrative for Maus by interviewing his father, who was a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. As a result, he created a story where he represented Jews as mice while the villains, in this case, the Germans and Poles, as cats and pigs. 

What could be argued is an important story for everyone to read and digest further to understand the holocaust in a more palatable way became the target of a successful book-banning effort. In January, the McMinn County school board in Tennessee voted unanimously to outright ban Maus from the eighth-graders curriculum. What is interesting about the banning of Maus is that while it seems contained to a district in a single state, it’s part of a growing trend where History is being increasingly whitewashed. In this case, Maus was just the lightning rod. As a result of the book ban, Maus saw a huge increase in interest and sales.  

9. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Most are familiar with the tale of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but some might be surprised to learn that this book was once heavily challenged. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland follows Alice, who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world where very little makes sense. Originally published in 1865, the first ban came about in 1900 when New Hampshire banned it for promoting sexual fantasies and self-pleasure. However, it’s been deemed more likely that this ban was about the author’s promiscuity rather than the material itself. Of course, this isn’t the first and only attempt made to ban Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In China in 1931, a government censor, General Ho Chien, banned the book for its portrayal of animals. More specifically, it was the animals acting like humans. He believed that putting animals on equal footing in children’s eyes was not only insulting to humans but also disastrous and dangerous. This largely speaks to China’s beliefs surrounding animals which is largely believed to be that the Chinese view animals as ‘human’s tools and property.’

In the 1960s, nearly a decade after Disney made their animated film adapting the book, the US was back to attempting to ban Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The reason this time? Drug usage. While successful at the time, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s fantastical tale has lived on.

8. Grapes of Wrath

Following the Joad family in the 1930s, a family of farmers who loses everything in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Grapes of Wrath is an American classic. The core of the story deals with the effects of the Great Depression as the Joad family seek opportunity in California. However, it doesn’t just speak of the family’s struggle but the plight of everyday people in what was a catastrophic moment in economic and American history. You’d think this would have been a pivotal book to read, but not everyone would agree with this assessment. 

Grapes of Wrath was banned across the country in various counties and cities. Some of the biggest opponents of the book were those residing in Kern County, California, where the fictional Joad family ended up. In 1939, they voted to ban the book in the county’s schools and libraries in a 4 to 1 vote. This challenge was aided by the local Associated Farmers organization, who weren’t happy that it fomented outrage over their labor practices. As a result, they called the book a ‘pack of lies’ and even went as far as publicizing book burnings. 

The AF was not alone, numerous outlets and organizations went on a campaign to smear the book and distort its message, and in a way, it worked. The book became a villain in its own right, being the poster of anti-American sentiments, a desire for communism, and anti-individualism. However, the banning of Grapes of Wrath is considered a key event in the creation of the Library Bill of Rights. So, in this case, the book ban helped everyone by providing protection too available knowledge.

7. Lolita

If ever there was a more polarizing book, it would be Lolita. This book was published in 1955 and written by Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov and follows a fictional author who becomes obsessed with his 12-year-old step-daughter leading him to kidnap her where the two form a strange and abusive relationship. Of course, it’s easy to see why this book was challenged and why in many cases, it won. The book ended up getting banned in numerous countries, such as England in 1955, France in 1956, Argentina in 1959, and New Zealand in 1960. This ended up helping Nabokov as he hadn’t published the book in the US until 1958, and the bans created a ton of press for his forthcoming book. 

The book, while a bestseller, drew a polarized response from many. While some called it grotesque, others hailed it as one of the best of the year and deemed it likely to become a classic. The book was banned in numerous countries due to obscenities in the book. However, and perhaps more interestingly, the book was never banned in the United States. It’s likely that the 1933 case ‘The United States of America v. One Book Called “Ulysses”’ had something to do with that. Of course, the book is still challenged around the world. But nevertheless, Lolita, as controversial as it is, is no longer banned and remains as polarizing as ever. 

6. The Handmaid’s Tale

Margret Atwood is a prolific writer who’s written her fair share of books since 1961, but few have left a mark as much as The Handmaid’s Tale. The book, originally published in 1985, has gone on to be a gripping tale of a dystopian future set in New England which is now a totalitarian state run on the laws of Christianity known formally as the Republic of Gilead. In this republic, women are assigned to classes, one of which is to reproduce for their masters and their barren wives.  Atwood’s haunting tale is one that’s been banned not only on local levels in the United States but outright in other countries like Spain and Portugal. 

With the current political climate surrounding the argument of abortions around the world, but primarily in the United States, The Handmaid’s Tale has become more relevant and challenged. Atwood responded directly to these book ban efforts and threats by creating a copy of the book that cannot be burned at all. It ranks as one of the more interesting responses to a persistent book-banning effort. 

5. Spycatcher

An interesting book ban is that of Spycatcher. Written by the UK’s former Assistant Director of MI5, Peter Wright, this book caused quite a stir when first published in 1987. Wright tells his story and draws on the history of the British Intelligence Community to craft a compelling memoir. Of course, this book infuriated many of those in power across the UK government and intelligence agencies. Why? Because it told of truths that they didn’t want the public to know about, such as how the agency operated beyond the boundaries of laws where the only rule you needed to follow was not to get caught. From this book, the world of espionage was blown wide open. As a result, the British government made every effort to suppress the material. Still, it only made the book even more successful abroad.

Spycatcher caused a lot of commotion in the UK, where the government targeted not only the book itself but also newspapers and media outlets publishing the material in the novel. Their efforts went as far as attempting to get the book banned in other countries, such as Australia, where Peter Wright had lived for several years following his retirement from the agency. 

4. Communist Manifesto

Published way back in 1848, The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, was a controversial piece of work from the start. It’s not truly considered a book and was instead considered a ‘political pamphlet’ this document would become one of the most influential political documents in the world. The manifesto addressed capitalism and promoted the idea of communism. If anything, The Communist Manifesto created a blueprint for the communist movement. It saw a future where the working class overthrew the ruling class and made a more fair landscape for all to thrive equally.

The infamous political document was banned in numerous countries, including Russia, Germany, and the US. When it was banned in Russia, it was during the reign of the imperial dynasty, The Romanovs. Of course, this ideology went against the very system they’d created. While they weren’t a capitalist society, they were the very definition of the ruling class, and for their reign, this document was a threat. The manifesto was able to start a revolution in France almost immediately after being printed. While it ultimately was unsuccessful, Vladimir Lenin, a known Marxist, would prevail in Russia come 1917. 

3. Mein Kampf

As any basic history lesson on WW2 will tell you, Mein Kampf was Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical manifesto. First released in 1925, more than a decade before the Second World War, Hitler published his 720-page manifesto in two volumes, one in 1925 and the other in 1926. Mein Kampf, which translates to ‘my struggle,’ was almost a blueprint for his ideology and thinking that created Nazism. The book was nothing more than a list of grievances, racist thoughts, and dangerous ideas of what Germany should become post-WW1. As history tells us, it did.

During Hitler’s time in power, the book grew in success and even became required reading. Of course, we know that Germany lost the war, and Hitler took his own life in 1945. After he died, Germany was left with a further tainted legacy and the manifesto of its worst dictator. So, they made every effort they could to destroy the book’s very existence. The book was banned in Germany following Hitler’s death and was also banned in several other countries, including Australia, Austria, and the Netherlands. At one point, online retailer Amazon even banned the selling of the book, but this was quickly reversed. 

Unfortunately for Germany, they can’t stop it all as the book became public domain in 2015, and now anyone is allowed to print the book and distribute it, which has raised concerns in Germany that Hitler’s ideas may become popularized again. In response to the book becoming available once again, the German Institute for Contemporary History published a copy of the book, which was a critical edition that contextualizes the ideas and role of Hitler and how the ideology was the blueprint of WW2 and the Holocaust. While the ban on Mein Kampf makes sense, it brings about a broader question of if it did more harm than good, as many book bans have resulted in increased interest. 

2. Why We Can’t Wait 

The Civil Rights movement in the United States was one of the most trying times for the fight for equality and at the helm was Martin Luthor King Jr. By no means was he alone in this fight, but he became the voice for millions and was extremely influential and active in the cause until his assassination in 1968. During his lifetime, Martin Luther King Jr. was a prolific author writing six books, with several more coming out posthumously, collecting speeches, sermons, writings, interviews, etc. One such book that caused the biggest stir was Why We Can’t Wait, but it caused more of a stir in South Africa. 

By the time of its ban, Martin Luther King Jr. had already been assassinated. His name was known around the world, and he’d even spoken of South Africa in regard to Apartheid. His book was banned for a very specific reason and one that 21st-century minds may struggle to justify. The reason Why We Can’t Wait was banned was because the book was critical of white supremacy. During Apartheid, that was the kind of country South Africa was: built and run by white supremacy. There were many books of similar nature banned in South Africa during apartheid, and they all had similar themes of criticizing the Apartheid system, which ultimately fell in 1994.

1. Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Similar to Ulysses by James Joyce, Lady Chatterley’s Lover has been one of the books to receive some of the most challenges throughout history. This classic first released in 1928 and written by D. H. Lawrence, follows an affair between Constance Reid and Oliver Mellors, her husband’s educated gamekeeper. The book itself was barely formally released before getting banned. Instead, it was published privately and mailed to people around the world.

Throughout the existence of this book, it’s been heavily challenged, and in many countries, it’s been outright banned. The book itself, while released in 1928, was banned in the US until 1959, and in 1960 the UK finally got an uncensored version of the famed book. Elsewhere in the world, the book was taken to trial after trial for obscenity charges, such as in Canada, India, Australia, and Japan. It’s important to understand we live in a very different world than when Lady Chatterley’s Lover was first released. These days erotic novels and movies are far more common than they ever were back in the early 20th century. If anything, the existence of novels like 50 Shades of Grey may have Lady Chatterley’s Lover to thank, as once the book was unbanned, the sexual revolution of the ’60s began. And now, here we; oversaturated with Lady Chatterleys and their lovers.

Americans love their food, and they are able to buy (almost) anything imaginable at restaurants, farms, markets, and other stores, but some foods are currently banned. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned many foods from being sold or eaten in the United States due to their not being safe for consumption. Here is a list of the top ten foods that are surprisingly banned in the US.

10 Haggis

Haggis is a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep, mixed with beef and oatmeal and seasoned with onions, cayenne peppers, and other spices. This mixture is then packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland and is usually accompanied by turnips and mashed potatoes.

Haggis is currently banned from being imported into the United States. In 1971, the US banned all foods that are made from animal lungs. Scotland has made several efforts to influence the US into lifting the ban on haggis and changing federal food safety regulations, but they have come up short each time.^[1]

9 Beluga Caviar

The beluga sturgeon is the largest of the sturgeons, weighing more than 900 kilograms (2,000 lb) and measuring more than 4.5 meters (15 ft) long. It can take up to 25 years for the female beluga to mature and produce eggs. Beluga caviar varies in color from light to dark grey and is the largest-grain caviar. Their pearls are the most delicate and have a mild, buttery flavor.

In 2005, the United States banned beluga caviar from further import due to overfishing. The US was consuming about 60 percent of the world’s beluga caviar, which is considered the king of caviar due to costing $200 per ounce. Beluga caviar was so desirable that the available stock declined by 90 percent. Overfishing of the beluga can be traced back to poaching and the black market.^[2]

8 Unpasteurized Milk

Unpasteurized milk, or raw milk, is milk that comes directly from an animal’s udder and hasn’t been heat-treated, or pasteurized, to kill any bacteria. Raw milk carries a higher risk of being contaminated with harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses than pasteurized milk. Children are at a higher risk for these diseases because their immune systems have not yet fully developed.

The FDA banned the interstate sale or distribution of raw milk in the US, but states are able to adopt their own laws of the sale of raw milk. Drinking and consuming unpasteurized milk is legal in all 50 states, but 20 states prohibit the sale of raw milk. Thirteen states allow the sales of raw milk in retail stores, and 17 allow the sale of raw milk only on the farm in which it was produced.^[3]

There is currently a movement in the United States to consume organic and locally grown foods. Some believe that raw milk is more nutritious and provides “good bacteria” for the body. Many of the states that allow the selling of raw milk require a warning label informing consumers about the risk of pathogens that can be found in the milk.

7 Sassafras Oil

Sassafras oil is extracted from the dried root bark of the sassafras tree. The tree stands anywhere from 6 to 12 meters (20–40 ft) tall, with slender branches and orange- and brown-colored bark. The leaves are oval and can grow 8 to 18 centimeters (3–7 in) long, and the flowers are small and of a greenish or yellow color.

Many Native American tribes used sassafras for various medicinal purposes, including to help with acne, urinary disorders, and fevers. Sassafras can also be found in Chinese medications to help treat rheumatism and trauma. The twigs from the plants were once used as toothbrushes, and sassafras was also used as an early anesthetic and disinfectant. Sassafras was found in many distinct foods in the US, and it was known as a key ingredient in many root beers and teas.

The FDA prohibits all sassafras bark, oil, and safrole as flavorings or food additives. Sassafras is no longer considered safe for human consumption, and it was banned in 1979, after research linked it to cancer. Also, when too much sassafras oil is consumed, poisoning can possibly occur.^[4]

6 Ortolan

The ortolan is a bird in the bunting family of Emberizidae. It is a tiny songbird that weighs less than an ounce. This bird was once a controversial meal in France and is cooked for eight minutes and served with the head attached. The bird is meant to be eaten whole, including the head and bones.

Killing and selling the ortolan was banned in France in the 1990s, but poachers continued to catch the small bunting and sell it to local restaurants. France’s League for the Protection of Birds claimed that the ortolan population dropped 30 percent even after the ban, forcing the government to enact more stringent enforcement in 2007.

The killing of the rare bird is less controversial than the barbaric way in which it is killed. These birds are trapped during their migratory season and kept in covered cages. The ortolan eats more at night, so the covering the cages will encourage them to gorge on grain, to the point where their bodies double in size. It is said that ancient emperors would pluck out the birds’ eyes, tricking them to thinking it was night so that they would eat more. The ortolans are ultimately thrown alive into a vat of Armagnac, which both drowns and marinates them.^[5]

France now strictly enforces the ban on killing ortolans. The killing, cooking, or smuggling of the bird anywhere in the European Union or the United States is currently a crime.

5 Casu Marzu

Casu marzu, translated into English, means “rotten cheese,” and if the rotten part isn’t already bad enough, it’s also known as “maggot cheese.” This Sardinian cheese is typically soaked in brine, smoked, and left to ripen in a cheese cellar. Then cheese makers set it outside uncovered, allowing cheesing flies to lay eggs inside it.

The eggs hatch into maggots, which start feeding on the cheese. They produce enzymes that promote fermentation and cause fats within the cheese to decompose. The cheese becomes supersoft and leaves a burn on the tongue when eaten. Local Sardinians say the cheese is only good when the maggots are still moving. If the maggots are dead, then the cheese has gone bad and is too toxic for consumption.^[6]Casu marzu is not in compliance with European Union hygienic standards and has been declared illegal. It is also illegal in the United States because it is unpasteurized and has more than six mites per square inch. (The microscopic bugs live on the surface of aged cheese.)

4 Shark Fins

The act of shark finning was deemed illegal by the United States. Finning, the act of cutting off a shark’s fin, is one of the greatest threats that sharks face. After a shark is finned, it is thrown back in the sea, where it may drown, bleed to death, or be eaten by other animals.

There is a large market for shark fins to make shark fin soup, which is a popular and luxurious Asian dish. Shark fins are very popular in Asia and can be found in food stores, pharmacies, and fishing villages. The demand for the shark fins has led to sharks being targeted solely for their fins, but don’t expect to try that soup in the US anytime soon.^[7]

3 Ackee Fruit

Ackee appears to be a very delightful and delicious fruit, but one must be very careful before eating. If the fruit is improperly eaten, it can cause vomiting or even lead to a coma or death. In Jamaica, the harmful effects of ackee fruit are known as Jamaican Vomiting Sickness.

The ackee fruit’s protective pod turns red and naturally opens, revealing the edible portion, which is the yellow arilli that surround the toxic black seeds. The fruit can be tried in Jamaica paired with codfish, which is a popular national dish.

The ackee fruit is originally native to West Africa but was brought to Jamaica in 1778. It is Jamaica’s national fruit. The FDA banned all ackee but would later allow the sales of frozen or canned ackee. The import of fresh ackee is still banned.^[8]

2 Mirabelle Plum

The mirabelle plum is the small, oval-shaped, and dark yellow fruit grown on a mirabelle plum tree. It is known to be sweet and full of flavor and is used in fruit preserves and dessert pies. The fruit can mostly be found in France, where 70 percent of the world’s mirabelle production occurs.

The production of the mirabelle plum has been supported since 1996 by a Protected Geographical Indication to help guarantee is authenticity.^[9] It has been promoted as a high-quality regional product, and the protected origin designation makes it almost impossible to get this fruit into the US.

1 Kinder Surprise Chocolate Eggs

Kinder Surprise Chocolate Eggs are a widely popular candy sold across the world—except in the United States. There are more than 3.5 billion Kinder Surprise Eggs sold each year, with no help from US markets. The Kinder Surprise Egg is a hollow chocolate egg that holds a plastic capsule which contains a toy. The toy is usually a simple collectible, like a tiny bike or a miniature beach bucket and pail.

Kinder Surprise Eggs have always been illegal in the Unites States. A 1938 regulation made it illegal to sell any candy that contains a non-nutritive object. Despite efforts to import the chocolate egg into the US, the federal government has continued its ban and recalled the item each time it was introduced. If you haven’t been lucky enough to try it yet, don’t worry, because Kinder just announced this May that they will be selling a similar chocolate egg in the US market!

Kinder will introduce the Joy Egg, which is a more recent version that separates the toy from the chocolate, as it is comprised of two sealed halves. The new egg meets FDA regulations and is compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It won’t be exactly the same as the Kinder Surprise, but fans across the US will be able to get their fix.^[10]

I’m just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life.
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If you’re old enough to remember the days before much of television was provided by ad-free streaming services or your DVR/Tivo could zip right through them, you’re old enough to remember commercials.

With commercial-free programming becoming the standard for television audiences, many people see those advertisements as nothing more than a nuisance to skip. But others still enjoy watching them – the funny ones especially. Maybe you couldn’t care less about football or movies, but you still watch the Super Bowl and the slowly dying Academy Awards because those live events often feature cutting-edge, highly-anticipated promotions that can set the tone for the rest of the year in advertising.

It’s like fashion week for commercials

Aside from showing off their products, many brands try to stand out so even if you don’t remember what they’re selling, you remember the commercial. In an effort to be memorable, some commercials push the boundaries of what’s acceptable, in terms of broadcast standards, current events, and public taste. Here are 10 commercials you won’t see on television anymore:

10 The Flintstones Light One Up

Cigarette ads weren’t always controversial and were a common fixture in the early days of television. Of course, this was before they were banned from TV and radio airwaves in 1970. There have also been cigarette spokespeople and mascots aimed at kids, most notably Joe Camel. But actual cartoon characters hacking it for cigarettes?

That happened back in the 1960s when The Flintstones would shill for Winston Tobacco, which sponsored the prime-time animated show. Now, who thought that a children’s caveman cartoon would be a great cigarette gimmick? Imagine Bart Simpson extolling the virtues of Marlboro instead of Butterfinger back in the 1990s. Yabba Dabba don’t.

9 Gillette Sells a Corporate Conscience

In 2019, the razor company Gillette made a commercial that waded into the #MeToo movement, imploring men to be “The Best That Man Can Be.” People often say they want to see companies with influence take a stand on important social problems. Silence on an issue can be interpreted as acceptance or tacit endorsement. But if a brand is going to take a stand on an issue, it has to thread the needle or it’ll backfire.

With an almost two-minute-long commercial, Gillette struggled to find a clear message. In the end, the ad didn’t really please anyone on either side of the debate (and down-right angered huge swathes of their client-base).

They fielded hecklers from #MeToo proponents, questioning the company’s commitment to the cause. And then there were questions as to why the company was taking a stand at all. If a business is going to stake a position on a controversial issue, it can’t just be to boost sales.

8 Pepsi Leaves Bad Aftertaste

A soft drink commercial starring a member of America’s royal familydoesn’t sound all that controversial. But it’s another case of corporate interests appearing tone-deaf while wading into political waters.

The 2017 ad, starring Kendall Jenner, features several images of people marching against injustice. She models for photographers while a banner-filled protest walks past her. Thirty seconds in and there are already so many things to shake your head at — and we’re not even talking about the ad’s random cellist or the spliced scenes of a frustrated scrapbooker. (Yeah, we’re confused too).

Ultimately, the crowd stands opposite police officers in the street. Ever the reality TV hero, Jenner walks through the crowd, grabs a can of Pepsi, and hands it to one of the officers. The cop takes a sip, and the crowd erupts in joy. It took only one day for Pepsi to pull the ad after it was accused of trivializing the growing Black Lives Matter movement that protested police brutality.

This looks even worse almost four years later after seeing cops showing signs of solidarity with protesters in the summer of 2020, taking part in the Jan. 6 riot in Washington.

7 Wait For the Beep

With all the hoopla surrounding Super Bowl commercials, the NFL and the network broadcasting the game usually have plenty of commercials to choose from. Many ads do push the envelope, but others are nixed before they make it to your tv.

This commercial, which was made for Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999, starts out harmless enough with the beginning of a blind date. As a man walks a woman to his car, she gets in before him. Thinking she’s alone, she rips a loud one. The clueless guy gets in the car and introduces his date to an unseen couple in the backseat, making it the worst blind date ever.

It was too crude for the NFL and Fox at the time. Looking at it now, the craziest thing about the commercial is that it promotes a cheap beeper service. What does trusting a fart have to do with beepers? Maybe they’re both a bad idea. We have to wonder if a “memorable” ad like this could have saved the beeper market or if, like that date, it was just too far gone.

6 Who Would Jesus Hate?

Some ads really do deserve to be censored. This was another case of a small company taking a shot with a commercial during the big game, this time in 2011. The ad for JesusHatesObama.com (yes, that was the name) features a Jesus bobblehead glaring at a Barack Obama bobblehead, until Obama falls into a fishbowl, making Jesus smile.

While this ad may have been popular with some viewers, executives and the regular Fox Network knew the mass audience for Super Bowl XLV wouldn’t be so forgiving.

5 Sex Doesn’t Always Sell

You’ve probably never heard of National Airlines. The company was once one of America’s top airlines but was acquired in 1980 by Pan-Am, which has also gone the way of the dodo. The most memorable aspect of National Airlines was their ads in the 1970s, both on the airwaves and in print. It featured young, attractive women suggesting something that starts with the letter F in a not-so-subtle tone.

“I’m Judy. Fly me.” The burgeoning women’s liberation movement wasn’t too keen on the airline so overtly pushing the envelope. And it wouldn’t fare much better today with the #Metoo movement either.

4 Tibet isn’t Free, But You’ll Save Money

It’s safe to say that Groupon biffed it on all fronts in their Super Bowl commercial from 2011. Most Super Bowl commercials aim for a laugh, but others try to pull at the heartstrings. Both ways have produced memorable and well-received ads, but sticking to one tone is key, especially when important issues are involved. 30 Seconds of air time just isn’t long enough to jump from drama to comedy.

Actor Timothy Hutton opens the ad with a somber intro, reminding us that the way of life for Tibetan people is in critical danger. And he wasn’t wrong since well over 250,000 of them have died in prison camps since the 1950s.

But the tone quickly changes, encouraging people to save money on fish curry in a Tibetan restaurant located in Chicago. Co-opting the plight of the Tibetan people for a “humorous” attempt to promote cheaper dining and activities didn’t sit well with anyone. 

3 Beware the Bandito 

It wasn’t all that long ago that racial stereotypes were woven into the media landscape. Commercials were no different, using over-the-top caricatures as part of their campaigns. The Frito Bandito was an animated character in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a walking, talking Mexican stereotype that promoted corn chips.

If it reminds you of Speedy Gonzalez, that’s because the Frito Bandito was voiced by Mel Blanc, who voiced Speedy Gonzalez for Looney Tunes. Seen in a woke light, this chip-loving bandit looked more like something from a Three Amigos spin-off than a time-tested brand.  

2 Big Mac Gets Big Cut

A commercial doesn’t have to cross boundaries or cause offense to get yanked off the airwaves. McDonald’s ran a campaign in the mid-1980s around the character Mac Tonight, a piano player dressed in black with a crescent moon face and sunglasses.

They were trying to make the fast-food chain hipper (think Poochie from The Simpsons). It seems harmless enough, right? Not to the estate of singer Bobby Darin, which accused McDonald’s of ripping off the song “Mac The Knife.” As an added bonus, the character inspired an parody called Moon Man years later that would anger even the mildest cancel-culturist.

1 The Pizza Did It

One of the biggest tropes of classic film noir is a scene where some no-nonsense fella encounters a dizzy dame in the midst of having a break-down. Like it or not, the image of this trench-coat-clad detective slapping the woman until she “gets a hold of herself” is engrained in our brains. Images like that helped normalize violence against women for a long time. It was even used to sell pizza in this ad for Jeno’s Frozen Pizza.

The man kicks down the door and the woman screams until she realizes he’s here for dinner. While the man explains why the frozen pizza will be easy to make, he hits her arm with the box. Twice — just to make sure he got his point across. This was definitely not the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 

North Korea is the most closed-off and secretive country in the world, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know anything about it. When it comes to North Korea, many of us know that the country is different from others. Its citizens must abide by peculiar laws and are not allowed access to certain websites or communication. Most North Koreans probably don’t even know they live in a restrictive state because they don’t have access to outside information. Here are 10 things that you do every day that are forbidden in the closed-off country.

Related: 10 Horrifying Accounts Of North Korea’s Prison Camps

10 Using the Internet

Can you imagine a world without the internet? Or someone telling you what websites you can and cannot access? Probably not, since the world as we know it is centralized around the web. We are constantly finding new and interesting information to better our lives by browsing it. Unfortunately, not everyone has this luxury.

It is against the law to use the global internet in North Korea. The government has strict controls over the internet and only allows a select few government officials, scientists, and students to have access to it. For everyone else, the government controls how it’s used and has its own state-ran network called Kwangmyong.

The internet is seen as a threat to the North Korean government because it is a tool that can be used to connect people from all over the world. It allows for the sharing of information and the exchange of ideas. This is something that the government of North Korea does not want its people to have access to. Citizens are even restricted in their phone access. They want to keep their citizens isolated from the rest of the world. ^[1]

9 Smiling

Everyone loves a smile. But what if there were laws on when you could do it? Sound nuts? Believe it or not, it’s against the law for North Koreans to smile on July 8, the anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s death.

If Citizens do happen to break the law for this rule, they could be sent to concentration camps or even pay with their lives. The same goes for being loud, drinking, or having a birthday party. So, whatever you do, don’t smile on July 8.

Current leader Kim Jong-un also initiated an 11-day mourning period for his late father, Kim Jong-il, on the 10th anniversary of his death. During this time, North Koreans were banned from laughing, drinking, and shopping (or other leisure activities).^[2]

8 Watching TV

Watching a football game with friends, curling up for a nice movie, or just channel surfing are all things we love to do. Can you imagine only having one program to choose from? I suppose that would eliminate the argument many couples have about what to watch. But hey, we all like choices, right?

North Koreans are not allowed to watch foreign television or even listen to outside radio. Like the internet, they have their own state-run television. Anything that is not official North Korean media is prohibited, as doing so would expose them to Western culture. In fact, it’s illegal to own a television or radio that even has the ability to tune into anything other than the official North Korean media. Can you imagine watching the same thing all the time?^[3]

7 Driving

What if you had to walk everywhere? That doesn’t sound fun.

Can you believe North Korea allows only one in a hundred people to own a vehicle? It’s true. Even then, if you’re a woman and need to get somewhere, you’re out of luck, that is, unless you have a male escort. Women are prohibited from driving entirely, even if they are working as traffic officers.

At one time, women were even banned from riding bicycles around town. However, that restriction has been lifted, and women can make use of the limited transportation. But while they can ride a bike now, many women still mainly work in the home, caring for their families. Those who work focus on trading and the local markets, while their husbands work in state-run jobs.^[4]

6 Leaving the Country

Speaking of travel, don’t plan on leaving any time either. The people of North Korea can’t just go anywhere they please; they are essentially stuck in the country. Any travel must be government approved. There have been few that have made it out, and many have lost their lives in efforts to escape. The few who do succeed in getting out usually have to pay a 3rd party to smuggle them out of the country. Even then, it’s risky. If caught, they and their entire family could be sent to prison concentration camps or even killed.^[5]

5 Wearing Jeans

Fashion is very much a part of who we are as individuals. It allows us to express ourselves in so many ways. We have the freedom to dress how we want. However, not everyone around the world has this freedom. The North Korean president has decided that skinny jeans are out, and you cannot wear skinny jeans in North Korea. Because they resemble a form of western civilization, they are banned.

If you do happen to break this fashion rule, you’re taken to court, where you must confess your crimes in writing. You will only be released when someone brings you something appropriate to wear, and your employer will be notified. The same goes for dyed hair and piercings. Patrols in the city of Chongjin even target popular youth spots to try and catch people red-handed in their crimes.^[6]

4 Talking on the Phone

Making an international phone call could get you killed in North Korea. Sadly, a North Korean factory chief in South Pyongan province was executed by firing squad at a stadium in front of 150,000 spectators in October 2007. The crime was for making international phone calls.

He apparently had 13 phones installed in the basement of his factory in order to make international calls. Six people were killed, and 34 others were injured when a stampede occurred as crowds were leaving the stadium.^[7]

3 Choosing Your Profession

Okay, so maybe we don’t all have the dream job we fantasized about as a child. But North Koreans really don’t get to choose. When first finishing high school, all citizens must join the military. Men stay for 10 years, and women stay until the age of 23. After the military, they are then assigned their life’s work.

Job assignments are not up for negotiation and mostly consist of farming and agriculture. Other jobs consist of street sweepers, factory workers, traffic workers, and teachers. AlleEmployees are supposed to work a 48-hour work week and only have Sundays off. Once in 2016, the entire country, aside from the elite workforce, had to work 70 straight days due to government order in efforts to boost the economy.^[8]

2 Getting a New Haircut

Occasionally, everyone loves a new look. It’s nice to change it up every once in a while, right? For North Koreans, not so much. They have exactly 28 haircuts to choose from.

Women have 14 style choices, and most of them are shorter since it’s customary for married women to have shorter hair. Men are not allowed hair longer than two inches (5 centimeters), and spiky or dyed hair is a no-no because it’s not considered a “socialist hairstyle.” If a person were to get a style that was not on the approved list, they would be expressing anti-socialist behavior.^[9]

1 Talking Smack about the Government

How many times do we criticize or critique the way our government does things without giving it another thought? This is not something that happens in North Korea without severe punishment.

All North Koreans who live under Kim Jong-un’s rule must swear loyalty and obedience to him, his family, and the state. Those who threaten or even insult the supreme leader or his family will be imprisoned or even executed. This goes for visitors as well. American student Otto Warmbier was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport while waiting to leave North Korea as part of a guided tour group. He was arrested for stealing a billboard from his hotel room. North Korea saw this as an insult, and he was imprisoned and died after being released in a vegetative state in June 2017.

It has been said that the country is somewhat like the show The Handmaid’s Tale, which is set in a dystopian future. Although North Korea is one of the most isolated and secretive nations in the world, there are some things we do know. So next time you’re annoyed at what one might sarcastically call a first-world problem, just reread this list and be thankful you’re not living in North Korea.^[10]

The People’s Republic of China has become an authoritarian superpower that uses its technological superiority to crush dissent. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), fearful of an uprising of its own citizenry, has managed to achieve obedience through social engineering. From 2014 onwards, the Party began introducing a complex Social Credit system that ranks people based upon their everyday behaviors. From late bill payments to simple traffic violations, the most minor of transgressions can see a person’s social score tank. Once this score falls below a certain threshold, the wrongdoer is then denied access to basic services such as public transportation.

The Chinese are micromanaged using an arsenal of cameras, spies, and algorithms. CCTV cameras use facial recognition technology to automatically detect jaywalkers and slap them with fines. Government apps allow snitches to report social deviants to the authorities. And an army of internet censors monitor social networks for posts critical of the communist regime.

President Xi Jinping, who recently abolished term limits to become president for life, has purged the Party of his political enemies. The career politician has built a cult of personality, both within and outside of the CCP. Those who resist the whims of “Papa Xi” run the risk of spending time in the re-education camps. To live in China is to never know whether you are doing something wrong. Laws are in a constant state of flux. Objects, words, and ideas are banned on a dime. And people start to disappear from public life.

Top 10 Ways China Is Turning Into An Episode Of Black Mirror

10 Ghosts & Time Travel

 

In recent times, state-controlled regulators have taken a somewhat robust approach to protecting the CCP. The Party fears anything that could undermine its own position of strength and authority, including religious iconography or material of a supernatural nature. It is for this reason that films featuring depictions of “terror, ghosts and the supernatural” are banned. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Crimson Peak, and Ghostbusters (2016) have all fallen foul of the country’s anti-ghost rules.

Sony Pictures pulled out all the stops to get Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters remake into Chinese theaters. Pre-empting trouble, Sony changed the name of the Chinese version of the film from “Ghost Catcher Dare Die Team” to “Super Power Dare Die Team.” The studio’s efforts to appease the censors – including the removal of entire scenes – ended in the film getting banned anyway.

Back in 2011, China memory-holed time travel movies and TV shows, just in time for the 90th anniversary of the CCP’s founding. “Producers and writers are treating serious history in a frivolous way, which should by no means be encouraged anymore,” argued the state’s media regulator. In reality, the Party did not want filmmakers challenging its own version of historical events.^[1]

9 Strange Company Names

 

In 2017, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce announced that it would no longer tolerate company names deemed strange, offensive, or excessively long. Newly registered businesses would also no longer be able to adopt “politically insensitive” names. For example, all references to the Falun Gong – a religious group that has undergone intense persecution at the hands of the communist state – are strictly forbidden.

A condom maker, “There is a Group of Young People With Dreams, Who Believe They Can Create Wonders of Life Under Uncle Niu’s Leadership Internet Technology,” was one of the first companies forced to shorten its name. Businesses that feature broken Chinese, or “Chinglish,” are similarly banned.

Following the government crackdown, social media users started drawing attention to businesses with unusual names. It was speculated that “Hangzhou No Trouble Looking For Trouble Internet Technology” and “Beijing Afraid of Wife Technology” would soon disappear.^[2]

8 Harrison Ford

Today, Hollywood’s global box office success is closely linked to China – and given that China has a population of over one billion people, it’s not hard to see why. This is something movie producers know all too well, most of whom refrain from making movies that might offend Chinese sensibilities. MGM’s remake of Red Dawn, for example, was originally set to show China invading the United States. When China got wind of the project, the studio spent millions in post-production costs to make North Korea the bad guys instead.

Likewise, actors with controversial political opinions face the wrath of the CCP. Harrison Ford is currently banned from entering China because of his advocacy for Tibetan independence. In 1951, China invaded and annexed Tibet, before forcing its leader, the Dalai Lama, to sign away his homeland’s sovereignty. Tibet remains a sensitive issue to this day, with Chinese officials accusing Tibet’s exiled government of stirring civil unrest.

Harrison Ford’s political views were heavily influenced by his ex-wife, Melissa Mathison. The late screenwriter worked on the 1997 Disney film Kundun. The film, which follows the monastic upbringing of the 14th Dalai Lama, was badly received in China. Both Mathison and the film’s director, Martin Scorsese, were soon banned from entering the country. Disney quickly backtracked and apologized for insulting its “friends,” after the communist dictatorship started banning its products.^[3]

7 Open Taxi Windows, Pigeons & Ping Pong Balls

In 2012, pictures started circulating of Chinese taxi cabs with missing window handles. The CCP had instructed taxi firms to remove the handles in the run-up to the country’s 18th National Congress in Beijing. Customers were also forced to sign written agreements which forbade them from opening taxi windows or doors at “important venues.” The move was designed to prevent public dissent during congress. Taxi drivers were also warned to be on the lookout for balloons and ping pong balls tagged with anti-CCP messages. But there was more.

Deadly weapons, including kitchen knives and pencil sharpeners, were banned from stores citywide. Pigeon owners were told they could no longer let their winged companions fly free for fear they could be used to spread seditious leaflets. For the same reason, citizens were forced to show the authorities identification before buying remote-controlled planes.^[4]

6 A Plague Simulation Game

 

At the height of the coronavirus outbreak, a mobile game called Plague Inc became a smash hit in both China and the United States. First released back in 2012, Ndemic Creation’s game tasks players with spreading a deadly pathogen around the world. This objective is achieved by tweaking the properties of the disease to increase its infectivity and lethality.

The game’s success soon caught the attention of Chinese censors, who ordered its removal from the country’s biggest digital distribution platforms, including Steam and the China App Store. After eight years of availability, the Cyberspace Administration of China suddenly argued that the game contained “content that is illegal in China.” Although no further explanation was given, the ban came in the wake of a government clampdown on information related to the covid outbreak. The CCP has been accused of underreporting the number of covid-related deaths during the early phase of the pandemic. It has spent the last year stalling an international investigation into the origins of the virus. And Citizen journalists have faced arrest after accusing the CCP of orchestrating a cover-up.

In light of the covid crisis, the game’s creators have now released a new mode for the game, which involves trying to resolve a viral pandemic – not create one. The team has also donated over $250,000 to fund vaccine research efforts.^[5]

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5 South Park

Everybody knows that Winnie the Pooh is now banned in China. It all began in 2013, after a photo of President Xi Jinping and Barack Obama started doing the rounds on Chinese social media. Memesters began comparing Jinping’s portly stature to that of A.A. Milne’s honey-obsessed bear, Winnie the Pooh. Naturally, the censors got to work and expunged all traces of the character from the Chinese internet. Images of Pooh were scrubbed from Weibo (the Chinese version of Twitter), and Christopher Robin was denied its theatrical release.

Cue the creators of South Park, who recently took the opportunity to mock the Middle Kingdom’s autocratic leadership. During an episode called “Band in China,” one of South Park’s characters is detained for attempting to sell marijuana in China. He is then sent to one of the country’s “re-education” camps, where he meets his fellow inmates Pooh and Piglet. “Some people said Pooh looked like the Chinese president,” explains Piglet. “So we’re illegal in China now.”

In 2019, all episodes of South Park were removed from video streaming sites in China. Discussions about South Park were banned on Chinese social media, and search engines no longer generate new results for the show. The show’s creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, took to Twitter to issue a mock apology: “Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts. We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Xi doesn’t look just like Winnie the Pooh at all… Long live the Great Communist Party of China!”^[6]

4 Christmas Gatherings

 

Christmas in China is a highly commercialized affair. Department stores often use the holiday to hold promotional events, Christmas decorations adorn market stalls, and e-cards are sent over WeChat. A more unusual tradition involves giving Peace Apples, which are thought to bring peace and goodwill to those who eat them. But the holiday has been stripped of its religious affiliations in recent years. This is by design.

Only a handful of religions are officially sanctioned in China, most of which are kept on a tight leash. The state has rewritten religious texts, imprisoned religious leaders on trumped up charges of inciting subversion, and demolished places of worship. The Chinese Communist Party, in emulating Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, seeks to create an entirely atheist state in which citizens worship only its communist leaders.

So it should come as no surprise that the CCP has sought to regulate Christmas. In 2018, the education bureau instructed schools to avoid celebrating Western holidays. Teachers were warned not to put up Christmas decorations, attend Christmas parties, or exchange Peace Apples. A number of cities have also banned stores from selling Christmas products and decorations.

Churches that fail to register with the state are routinely punished. In many regions, Christians are not allowed to attend Christmas gatherings, forcing the practice underground. The police, at the behest of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, have been tasked with shutting down Christmas services. In 2019, one church-goer in Nanyang City explained the lengths his congregation must go to evade the authorities: “We hold Christmas in small [household] gatherings, meeting early and in secret.”^[7]

3 Images of Umbrellas and Jasmine

 

China does not like symbols of resistance. It has already banned any discussion surrounding the Tiananmen Square Incident of 1989, even going so far as to remove the date of the massacre from online search results. To achieve this, China employs millions of censors to purge the internet of sensitive information.

As part of the nation’s “Great Firewall,” details relating to the Jasmine Revolution are also heavily censored. The Jasmine Revolution of 2011 saw the people of Tunisia overthrow their corrupt government. In response, pro-democracy activists in China organized their own protests across a dozen cities. The CCP responded with brutality, beating and arresting protesters. All references to the Jasmine Revolution, including images of the flower itself, were blocked from the Chinese internet. Songs about jasmine suddenly disappeared from streaming sites. The cops banned the sale of jasmine flowers at local stalls in Beijing, tanking market prices. And the China International Jasmine Cultural Festival was canceled that year.

Similar censorship measures were deployed against images of the humble umbrella – a symbol of the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement. In 2014, President Xi Jinping visited Macau in South China, just west of Hong Kong. Journalists attending the event were told that umbrellas were strictly off-limits and were given raincoats instead. “They said you couldn’t open umbrellas at the airport because it would affect the flights,” said one bewildered attendee.^[8]

2 Wordplay

 

Much to the disgust of the CCP, Chinese citizens are using wordplay to get around internet censorship measures. The word for “Grass Mud Horse” (Caonima), which sounds similar to “f**k your mother” (cao ni ma) in Mandarin, has become a slogan of resistance to internet censorship. The Grass Mud Horse – a mythical species of alpaca – quickly spread across the Chinese internet like wildfire. Alpaca-themed memes, blog posts, music videos, stuffed toys, and clothing lines started to take root. It wasn’t long before Grass Mud Horse Day took off, sharing its date with the CCP’s own Party Day.

The story of the fabled creature came from a satirical encyclopedic entry on Baidu Baike in 2009. It is said the Grass Mud Horse lives in the “Male Gebi” desert (readers can look that one up for themselves). One day, an army of river crabs showed up and attacked the Grass Mud Horse. In Chinese, the word for river crab (hexie) sounds like “harmony.” Censored internet posts are often described as being “harmonized” – a sly reference to the CCP’s repeated calls for a harmonious society. Baidu’s tale has a happy ending, and the river crabs are defeated in battle.

In the run-up to the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television blacklisted content that could trigger social unrest. The Great Firewall started cleansing the internet of anti-censorship puns and memes, including references to Mud Horses and river crabs. Officially, the Party claims the ban is designed to protect the sanctity of Chinese culture and language.^[9]

1 Erotic Banana Eating

 

While the production and distribution of pornography is already illegal in China, carrying a potential life sentence, the Red Dragon recently went a step further. In 2016, China’s Ministry of Culture condemned live-streaming services for their role in spreading pornographic and violent broadcasts. It also discovered that nearly four-fifths of stream watchers are male, many of whom view female entertainers. Regulation soon followed. Streamers were banned from wearing miniskirts, stockings, and suspenders. According to state broadcaster CCTV, erotic banana eating was also outlawed. The ministry believes that these streams represent a danger to the nation’s “social morality.”

China now requires all major streaming companies to monitor their broadcasts around the clock. Anyone hosting a live-streaming session must register their real name with the government and undergo facial recognition scans (likewise for fans donating money). The regulator says streams must “actively spread positive energy [and] demonstrate truth, goodness and beauty.”^[10]

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