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KP Sharma Oli’s Nepal government bans 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube, for failing to register.
According to the notice issued by the ministry, the social media companies were given seven days from August 28 to register. (Representative)
The KP Sharma Oli-led Nepal government on Thursday announced to ban at least 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, for failing to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology within the given deadline.
According to the notice issued by the communication ministry, these social media platforms were given seven days from August 28 to register themselves with the government, news agency PTI reported.
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The ban will come into effect from Thursday midnight.
After repeated requests, the government again, on August 28, set a seven-day deadline for social media platforms to register in Nepal. That deadline expired on Wednesday night.
Even when the deadline expired on Wednesday night, none of the social media platforms — including Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Alphabet (YouTube), X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn —submitted applications.
However, TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live have been listed, while Telegram and Global Diary have applied and are in the process of approval, according to the ministry.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister of Communications and IT Prithvi Subba Gurung, as per sources in the ministry.
The ministry also directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to disable unregistered social sites.
“Except for the five listed platforms and two in the process, all others will be deactivated within Nepal,” ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur said, adding that if any platform completes registration, it will be reopened the same day.
The decision will likely affect millions of Nepalese living abroad, earning or learning, as most of them use social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp every day for communication.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) expressed displeasure over the government’s decision and demanded immediate withdrawal of it.
“The government’s move to ban social media sites without giving alternatives not only restricts freedom of expression and press freedom but it also affects the right to information guaranteed by the constitution,” a statement by Ram Prasad Dahal, general secretary of FNJ, said.
This isn’t the first time Nepal has banned a social media platform.
In November 2023, the then Pushpa Kamal Dahal government blocked TikTok, prompting widespread criticism. The ban was later lifted in August 2024 after TikTok agreed to register in Nepal.
(With inputs from agencies)
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Kathmandu, Nepal
September 04, 2025, 23:18 IST
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