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Sunday, Oct 18, 2026
Outside the box.
Nepal has banned TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing app, over concerns it disrupts social harmony
TikTok, with approximately one billion monthly users, has faced bans in countries like India.
The country's Communications Minister, Rekha Sharma, informed BBC Nepali that TikTok was spreading harmful content and that implementation of the ban by telecom operators would be immediate.
However, Gagan Thapa of the ruling Nepali Congress criticized the move as hindering free speech, calling for regulation instead of a ban.
Globally, TikTok has been under fire amid fears of data sharing with the Chinese government, a claim ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, denies.
TikTok has not commented on the ban.
Despite trailing Facebook and Instagram, TikTok's popularity is soaring among young people, particularly those 16-24 years old, in Nepal.
Over four years, more than 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases have been reported in Nepal.
While platforms like YouTube and Facebook are widespread across demographics, TikTok stands as the third most popular in Nepal.
Besides Nepal, Pakistan and Indonesia have also recently imposed restrictions on the app.
The country's Communications Minister, Rekha Sharma, informed BBC Nepali that TikTok was spreading harmful content and that implementation of the ban by telecom operators would be immediate.
However, Gagan Thapa of the ruling Nepali Congress criticized the move as hindering free speech, calling for regulation instead of a ban.
Globally, TikTok has been under fire amid fears of data sharing with the Chinese government, a claim ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, denies.
TikTok has not commented on the ban.
Despite trailing Facebook and Instagram, TikTok's popularity is soaring among young people, particularly those 16-24 years old, in Nepal.
Over four years, more than 1,600 TikTok-related cybercrime cases have been reported in Nepal.
While platforms like YouTube and Facebook are widespread across demographics, TikTok stands as the third most popular in Nepal.
Besides Nepal, Pakistan and Indonesia have also recently imposed restrictions on the app.