TikTok Banned in Nepal over Detrimental Effects on Harmony
TikTok, the popular social media app, has been banned in Nepal. Why, you ask? Well, it seems that the platform has been causing some serious issues when it comes to social harmony. People in Nepal have been criticizing TikTok for promoting hate speech, and the government has finally decided to take action.
“The ban would come into effect immediately, and telecom authorities have been directed to implement the decision.” – Rekha Sharma, Minister for Communications and Information Technology
Interestingly, this ban comes right after the government announced a new rule that requires social media companies to have liaison offices in Nepal. It seems like the government is really cracking down on these platforms.
Nepal’s Concerns About TikTok
So, let’s talk about why Nepal decided to ban TikTok. The government held a cabinet meeting and discussed the detrimental effects of the platform on society. They believe that TikTok is spreading malicious content and hate speech, which can have a strong impact on the young audience that uses the app.
And they’re not wrong. Over the past four years, Nepal has seen 1,647 cases of cybercrime related to TikTok. That’s a lot!
TikTok is incredibly popular among teenagers and young adults, especially those between the ages of 16 and 24. While other platforms like Facebook and YouTube have more users overall, TikTok is growing rapidly among young people.
Some people, like Gagan Thapa, a senior Nepali Congress leader, are questioning the ban. They believe that instead of banning TikTok, the government should focus on regulating the platform better. It’s definitely a valid point.
However, the government argues that while freedom of speech is important, TikTok has received a lot of criticism for spreading hate speech. So, they believe that the ban is necessary to protect society.
On top of all this, the government has also introduced a new rule that requires social media companies to have a presence in Nepal. They can either set up liaison offices or appoint a focal person in the country. The deadline for compliance is three months.
TikTok Bans Growing More Common
TikTok seems to be facing bans left and right these days. One of the main concerns is that its parent company, ByteDance, might be sharing user data with the Chinese government. ByteDance denies these accusations, but the bans keep coming.
Canada has launched an investigation into TikTok’s data collection policies, and the app is banned from certain government devices in the US. Montana has even gone as far as banning the app altogether in the state.
And it’s not just Nepal. India banned TikTok and several other Chinese apps in 2020 after a border clash between Indian and Chinese forces. Indonesia shut down TikTok’s online shopping service, and Pakistan has banned the platform multiple times. Even the US, UK, and European Union have enforced TikTok bans.
So, it seems like TikTok is facing some serious challenges worldwide. We’ll have to wait and see how the situation unfolds.
Photo: Solen Feyissa, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
