TRANSCRIPT:
The shutdown began on Saturday night.
Brazil's telecommunications regulator, Anatel, told internet service providers to suspend users' access to the social media platform X, following a Supreme Court order.
The Supreme Court says the action has been taken because X refused to comply with court orders over accounts and the operation of the platform in Brazil.
Most of the accounts ordered blocked are run by backers of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, some of which deny he lost his 2022 re-election bid.
X owner Elon Musk has called the move an attack on freedom of speech - but Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes says the platform was being used in unacceptable ways.
"Freedom of speech is not freedom of aggression; freedom of speech is not freedom to destroy democracy, institutions, dignity and honour; freedom of speech is not freedom to spread hate speech and prejudice."
The Brazilian president has backed the Supreme Court decision.
"Having a lot of money does not allow you to disrespect it. This citizen is an American citizen, he is not a citizen of the world. He can't offend presidents, congressmen, the Senate, or the Supreme Court. Who does he think he is?"
The international community is even weighing in.
Current US Vice president and Democrat nominee Kamala Harris says social media shouldn't be a place where you can do whatever you want.
"There has to be a responsibility placed on these social media sites to understand their power. They are directly talking to millions and millions of people without any level of oversight or regulation - and that has to stop."
But for some young people in Brazil, the reaction to the order has been mixed.
Maira says she has seen evidence of propaganda and misinformation being spread on X.
"I honestly think it's right because everyone I know who uses Twitter (X) gets a bit lost between what is real and what is fake, you know? But I also don't know. I don't think it has to be all or nothing; there could be some regulation there. But I think it's right. If Elon Musk wants to come here and thinks this is a banana republic, he's wrong."
20 year old law firm intern Fernando says there could be another way to deal with the issues.
"Look, when it comes to bans, I'm somewhat against them, but I am in favour of regulating some things. I know Telegram also had some problems. I think Twitter could be regulated because it's kind of a no man's land, and I think that's a bit risky."
Brazil is one of the biggest markets for X, with tens of millions of users - though it is not as popular as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok.
It remains to be seen how the feud will ultimately play out.
The suspension is meant to remain in place until X has complied with all court orders - over the suspension of accounts and the appointment of a legal representative, which Brazilian law requires all social media companies to have.
On the back of the shutdown, some users have already moved to other sites, like threads or bluesky.
Still, eighteen year old student Ana Julia Alves de Oliveira says it [[X]] remains an important platform.
"People my age aren't really in the habit of watching TV news or reading the news, and Twitter (X) was a way, at least for me, to get news from around the world. So I've lost touch a little with what's happening around the world and a way of entertaining myself - there was a lot of entertainment there too. Whether I want to or not this is becoming a new reality for me now."
