Government

Nepal Announces Ban on TikTok Citing Disturbance to Social Harmony

Published November 14, 2023

In a recent move that has taken the global community by surprise, the government of Nepal has declared an impending ban on the widely popular video-sharing platform TikTok. This decision comes after official statements citing concerns over the negative impacts of the platform on societal relations. Nepalese authorities are taking stringent measures to ensure the application is promptly blocked, as they believe that the platform is being misused in ways that disrupt social harmony and community goodwill. Internet service providers within the country have been instructed to shut down access to TikTok.

Assessment of TikTok's Impact on Nepalese Society

Criticism of TikTok in Nepal has grown in recent times, with officials and societal analysts expressing that the content found on the platform has been leading to increased divisiveness among its users. A closer evaluation of the decision reveals that policymakers are particularly concerned about how misinformation and inappropriate content might be undermining social structures and traditional values which are deeply rooted in Nepalese culture.

Global Reaction and TikTok's Defense

The announcement has echoed across international boundaries, prompting diverse reactions ranging from support of the decision to uphold cultural integrity to concerns about freedom of expression. TikTok's corporate response has yet to fully unfold but the company, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has previously been involved in dialogue and initiatives to curb such negative effects by enhancing content moderation and community guidelines on the platform.

Nepal, TikTok, Ban