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Ban on Social Media in Nepal: Here's the Reason

By Gireesh Vasishta
Ban on Social Media in Nepal: Here's the Reason

Compliance with Registration Directive: According to the 2023 Social Media Regulation Directive (Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080), both domestic and foreign social media platforms must register with Nepal's Ministry of Information Technology, appoint a local contact person, designate a grievance redressal officer, and implement self-regulatory mechanisms. On August 28, 2025, a seven-day deadline was given, but none of Google's platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, registered within this timeframe

The Nepalese government has imposed a ban on 26 major unregistered social media platforms and other platforms starting from September 4, 2025. This measure includes platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, and Snapchat. This ban has been implemented in compliance with a directive from Nepal's Supreme Court, mandating that all social media platforms must mandatorily register with the government to operate in the country.

Reasons for the Ban:

Compliance with Registration Directive: According to the 2023 Social Media Regulation Directive (Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2080), both domestic and foreign social media platforms must register with Nepal's Ministry of Information Technology, appoint a local contact person, designate a grievance redressal officer, and implement self-regulatory mechanisms. On August 28, 2025, a seven-day deadline was given, but none of Google's platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, registered within this timeframe.Indian Laws Lag Light-Years Behind Technology: Justice Manmohan Sarin – What’s the Issue?

Supreme Court Order: In December 2020, lawyers B.P. Gautam and Anita Bajgain, along with Manoj Gurung, General Secretary of the Nepal Cable Television Federation, filed petitions in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on foreign advertisements and content published through unauthorized social media platforms. The court, which combined these petitions for hearing, ordered on August 17, 2025, that all platforms must be legally registered.TIMEX Classics Analog Watch for Men with Round Dial & Water Resistant Man's Wrist Watches

Banned Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger.

YouTube, X (Twitter), LinkedIn.

Reddit, Snapchat, Discord, Pinterest.

Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Rumble.

Line, Imo, Jalo, Sol, Hamro Patro, Mi Video, Mi Video3.