Social Media Ban in Nepal: Facebook, X, YouTube Among 26 Platforms Blocked

On September 4, 2025, the K.P. Sharma Oli government banned up to 26 social media sites, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter), claiming that they had not complied with Nepal's registration criteria by the deadline.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced in a public notice that it has directed the Nepal Telecommunication Authority to deactivate any social media platforms that are not registered until they are. Following several petitions, the government once more gave social media companies seven days to register in Nepal on August 28. That deadline ended on the evening of September 3.

Stern Notice to Social Media Platforms

The Ministry's representative, Gajendra Thakur, stated on the afternoon of September 3 that the government hoped social networking companies would contact them before midnight. He claimed that the government would take appropriate action if they didn't.

At a meeting held at the Ministry on 4 September, it was decided to impose the ban because no one came forward. Supporters of free speech have criticised the action, claiming it is more about censoring opposing views than it is about regulation. They think that many social media businesses may have refused to register because they felt the government's registration requirements, which include strict inspection and control procedures, were unreasonable and offensive.

Ban Hampering Nepal's Image: Acharya

The Centre for Media Research's director, Ujjwal Acharya, referred to the decision as shortsighted and claimed that the ban will harm Nepal's reputation as a democratic country. According to Acharya, the government made the choice without considering how it would affect regular people. This choice will damage Nepal's democratic image for years to come and will leave a bad impression on the world stage.

A recent Supreme Court decision and the government's own Directives Relating to the Regulation for Usage of Social Media served as the foundation for the decision to ban the websites. The highest court in Nepal ruled two weeks ago that social media and internet platforms, whether they are native or foreign, must be required to register with a relevant government.

However, Mr Acharya contends that the government's impractical requirements are the reason platforms have not complied. He claims that the Nepali government's suggested oversight and control procedures are just too invasive. TikTok was prohibited by the then-Pushpa Kamal Dahal government in November 2023, which sparked intense outrage.

Oli Government in the Firing line

The Oli government has been criticised for being more retaliatory towards online critics since it took office almost 14 months ago. Its attempt to pass a new social media regulation bill earlier this year was also strongly opposed. Experts cautioned that the government was trying to regulate almost all internet activity under the pretence of regulation.

In the most recent instance, the government had already issued four registration requests to platforms, each with a comparable deadline. However, only the Ministry made those prior requests. This time, a Cabinet decision issued the registration directive. Social media users blasted the ban as soon as it was announced, calling it foolish, injudicious, and an example of the government shooting itself in the foot. Many users posted what they claimed to be their final remarks since they thought the platforms would fall down at any time.