Nepal has officially announced its decision to ban TikTok, expressing concerns about the popular video-sharing app's potential negative impact on social harmony. The announcement came following a cabinet meeting on Monday, where Rekha Sharma, Nepal's Minister for Communications and Information Technology, revealed that TikTok has been consistently used to share content that disrupts social harmony, interferes with family structures, and strains social relations. Although specific reasons triggering the ban were not detailed, Sharma indicated that technical measures were being pursued to close the app.
TikTok, with its unique format for short-form video content, has faced bans, either partial or complete, in numerous countries globally, often citing security concerns. In Nepal, where over 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases have been reported in the last four years, according to local media, the government is taking steps to address what it perceives as a threat to societal harmony.
Purushottam Khanal, Chief of Nepal Telecom Authority, revealed that internet service providers have been directed to close the app. Some providers have already complied, and others are expected to follow suit later on Monday. TikTok has not responded to requests for comments on the matter, but the platform has previously criticized such bans as "misguided" and based on "misconceptions."
The decision to ban TikTok has not been without criticism, especially from opposition leaders in Nepal who argue that it lacks effectiveness, maturity, and responsibility. They contend that unwanted content exists on various social media platforms and call for a regulatory approach rather than outright restriction.
Pradeep Gyawali, a senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), advocated for the regulation of social media platforms rather than imposing outright restrictions. Similarly, Gagan Thapa, leader of the Nepali Congress party, accused the government of attempting to stifle freedom of expression. He asserted that while regulation is necessary to discourage misuse, shutting down social media platforms under the guise of regulation is fundamentally flawed.
This decision comes shortly after Nepal introduced a directive mandating social media platforms operating in the country to establish local offices. The move to ban TikTok further underscores the ongoing global debate surrounding the regulation and usage of social media platforms, as governments seek to strike a balance between freedom of expression and the need for oversight.
TikTok, operated by the Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, boasts approximately a billion monthly users, making it the sixth most utilized social platform globally, according to the We Are Social marketing agency. Governments worldwide have been working to impose tighter controls on TikTok, citing data rule violations and expressing concerns about its potential adverse impact on the younger generation.
India, Nepal's neighbor, banned TikTok in June 2020, along with several other apps developed by Chinese companies, citing concerns about national security and integrity. Pakistan, another South Asian country, has banned TikTok at least four times, attributing its decisions to what the government terms the platform's "immoral and indecent" content.
ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, rejects criticisms suggesting it is under direct control from Beijing. Despite lagging behind Meta's dominant trio of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, TikTok's remarkable growth among the younger demographic surpasses that of many competitors. The platform's unique approach to short-form video content has resonated particularly well with younger users, contributing to its widespread popularity.