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Confusion reigned in Nepal on Thursday after the government moved to shut down all unregistered social media platforms, services that have become deeply embedded in the daily lives of Nepalis—from the young ones to the elderly.
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), following a directive from its line ministry, released a list of 26 platforms to be blocked. Among them are Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, Discord, Pinterest, Signal, Threads, WeChat, Quora, Tumblr, Clubhouse, Mastodon, Rumble, VK, Line, IMO, Zalo, Soul, and Hamro Patro.
In response, users on Facebook and X began posting what they described as their “last photos,” expressing shock and dismay at the sudden decision.
Rumours also spread quickly in Kathmandu that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, had reached out to Nepali officials to signal its willingness to comply with local laws.
Gajendra Thakur, spokesperson for the Ministry of Communication, confirmed that Meta had sent an email to a ministry official on Thursday inquiring about the required documentation. “We have responded to their queries,” Thakur said.
As uncertainty grew, many users rushed to download Viber, the cross-platform voice over IP (VoIP) and instant messaging app owned by Japan’s Rakuten. By Thursday evening, Google’s Play Store reportedly struggled to handle the sudden spike in traffic from Nepali users.
The ban follows a Cabinet decision on August 25 requiring all social media operators to register within seven days under the Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2023. The deadline expired on Wednesday, prompting the government to act.
On Thursday, Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced that the government had taken the decision in line with a Supreme Court directive to regulate social media companies operating without approval.
