The Nepalese government recently decided to ban TikTok and other social media sites that have been used improperly to propagate hate speech and derogatory remarks against individuals. This decision was made in response to a rise in cybercrimes in Nepal, some of which were broadcast on TikTok. For some time now, the government has been debating social media platform regulation.
Not just Nepal, but several other nations have banned TikTok and related apps for a variety of reasons. Politicians, including the leaders of the opposition parties and the prime minister, have discussed the need to regulate social media.
The government has released rules for the proper use of social media platforms to facilitate the regulation of social media usage. Leaders of different political parties came to the conclusion after talks that some regulation is required to stop the abuse of these forums.
The government is actively trying to build a legislative framework to oversee the use of TikTok, and the decision to ban it is temporary rather than permanent. The government places a strong emphasis on striking a balance between defending society from the negative consequences of unrestrained social media use and allowing people to express themselves freely.
In a cabinet meeting, Nepal Government decides to ban TikTok: Nepal's Minister of Communication pic.twitter.com/38cwqMeWsj
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023
Cybercrimes have increased significantly in Nepal over the last four years, with over 1,648 incidents reported to the police, many of which had a TikTok connection. Abuse of TikTok and related platforms has led to an increase in incidences of character assassination, hate crimes, and profanity.
While users may make and share videos on TikTok according to their interests, the platform's algorithms frequently display content that may be detrimental to one's mental health. TikTok content has been connected to mental health problems like sadness, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
टिकटक बन्द गर्ने निर्णयप्रति सर्वसाधारणले गरे सरकारको प्रशंसा https://t.co/oovWc7VVR0
— Annapurna Post (@Annapurna_Post) November 13, 2023
The ban on TikTok is not unique to Nepal. Several other countries, including China, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, and Norway, have also imposed bans or restrictions on TikTok and similar platforms. These measures are often taken due to concerns about national security, data privacy, and the spread of harmful content.
सामाजिक सद्भावमा खलल पुर्याइएको भन्दै टिकटक बन्द गर्ने सरकारको निर्णय pic.twitter.com/MZhdd3F8tD
— BBC News Nepali (@bbcnepali) November 13, 2023
The decision is in line with a global trend of social media sites being subject to more scrutiny and regulation to safeguard citizen’s rights and national interests.
