Nepal bans 26 major social media platforms on the grounds of misinformation and security considerations. After this legitimate ban by the Nepalese Government, the communication has been down in Nepal, causing an increased use of VPN.
The ban of social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram, among others, was officially announced by the Nepalese government on September 4, 2025. This decision has raised a major concern associated with national security, public order, and compliance with regulations. This brief blog will outline the primary reasons and implications of this ban in Nepal.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology claimed these platforms are operating in Nepal without mandatory registration. Some of the main reasons are;
The government would maintain, however, that it is not a permanent cessation. Services could be resumed once the companies register and fulfill Nepali laws.
The ban is not just a sudden order implemented by the Nepalese government. It is rooted in judicial enforcement. The Supreme Court of Nepal directed that all social media platforms register their company under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to legally operate in Nepal, and those who did not comply with the implementation are now blocked, and regular users are unable to access those social media platforms. Putting this into the infraction seemed fittingly embodied in:
Increasingly ignored by some of the world's larger platforms, the government finally had to impose the ban just to comply with the ruling from the court.
In a way, this means the bulk of impact stands on the common user and the private sector, while the government keeps control over its digital communication channels.
The ban has provoked fierce arguments regarding its validity both inside Nepal and beyond its borders:
The masses are getting themselves free VPN apps to bypass the restrictions imposed upon the use of Facebook or WhatsApp, as these two social apps are the most commonly used by Nepalese to establish communication with their family members, friends, clients, and are also used for distance learning.
However, the Nepal Police have issued public warnings against them, and the risks are:
While VPNs give temporary relief from bans, the authorities are reminding their citizens that this comes with serious privacy and security risks.
Nepal's decision to restrict access to 26 major social media platforms has turned into one of the most controversial digital policies in the country's history.
From the perspective of the Nepalese Government, this ban is a major step towards:
Authorities argue that there are no clear rules; global platforms operate with their own standards to the detriment of national security and contribute to a breach of social harmony.
Critics argue that this has even bigger ramifications in terms of restricting freedom of speech and the press guaranteed under Article 19 of the Nepalese Constitution, affecting innumerable small businesses, travel and tourism operators, and entrepreneurs who relied on social media to advertise and communicate, and eroding the image of Nepal as a gradually closing off open digital path for international audiences.
In that sense, the position of balance, where the government seeks control and security while civil society seeks freedom and restoration of access to social media platforms, has been created.
Current measures require social media businesses to comply with registration requirements mandated by the Nepali Government. A balance would probably be struck between rights and regulation, which could involve a short-lived or long-term crackdown on Internet freedom.
The immediate ban on social media platforms potentially marks the beginning of a great historical intervention in the digital governance of Nepal, affecting a million citizens in how they will express and connect in the future.
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