Kathmandu: Nepal on Thursday announced a ban on major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, after they failed to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology within the stipulated deadline.
The ministry had given social media companies seven days from August 28 to comply. However, by Wednesday night, no major platforms—such as Meta-owned Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Alphabet’s YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn—had submitted their applications.
In contrast, TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz and Popo Live were successfully listed, while Telegram and Global Diary have applied and are awaiting approval, the ministry said.
The decision to enforce the ban was taken during a meeting chaired by Communications and IT Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. The ministry has also instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to disable access to all unregistered platforms from Thursday midnight.
“Except for the five already listed and the two under review, all other platforms will be blocked in Nepal. Any platform completing registration will be restored the same day,” ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur clarified.
Observers warned the move would significantly disrupt communication for millions of Nepalis abroad, most of whom rely on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to stay in touch with family. Senior journalist Pralhad Rijal noted that more than seven million Nepali youth studying or working overseas would be directly affected.
The ban could also impact content creators in Nepal, as Facebook had only recently made the country eligible for content monetisation, allowing users to earn through videos, reels and stories.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) strongly opposed the government’s decision, calling it a violation of constitutional rights. “The move to ban social media without offering alternatives not only curtails freedom of expression and press freedom but also undermines the right to information,” FNJ general secretary Ram Prasad Dahal said in a statement, urging the government to withdraw the restrictions immediately.
