The Iranian government has partially restored internet connectivity following the protests that began in January, yet usage remains significantly lower than before these events. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, noted that current traffic levels are below those recorded prior to January 8, and even lower than during the brief restoration period from January 27 to February 28. While some connectivity has returned, platforms such as Instagram, X/Twitter, and YouTube remain inaccessible. The Iranian digital rights organization Filterbaan highlighted that the regime's claim of restored connectivity is misleading, as many essential services like Google Play are still disrupted. Analysts theorize that the limited restoration aims to provide some relief while maintaining enough instability to hinder the effectiveness of censorship circumvention tools like VPNs. The economic impact of the internet blackout has been severe, with reports indicating that nearly two million people have lost jobs due to the shutdown, which has cost the Iranian economy an estimated $80 million per day.