After a clear notice to register social media in Nepal, seven days from August 28 apply for listing. The deadline expired and most of them not get registered in Nepal.
Understanding Nepal’s Social Media Ban: What’s Really Happening?
As all of you, I enjoy scrolling through Facebook, messaging on Messenger, YouTube watching after a long day at the store, or laughing it up on Instagram. But these days, there’s a storm brewing — and it’s not the weather. It’s something big: the government has officially banned 26 social media platforms in Nepal.
When I initially learned about it, I thought it was a rumor. But it’s real, and it started at midnight on the 5th of September 2025. If you’re asking what is going on, don’t worry, you’re not alone. So here’s a straightforward summary for regular people like you and me.
List of 26 unregistered Social Media In Nepal
- Messenger
- YouTube
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Snapchat
- Discord
- Signal
- Threads
- Quora
- Tumblr
- Clubhouse
- Mastodon
- Rumble
- MeWe
- VK (VKontakte)
- LINE
- IMO
- Zalo
- Soul
- Hamro Patro
Major impact user and business prospective will be Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Linkdin. These are not just social media but way of doing business as well.
Social Media App You can still use in Nepal in case of above BAN
- TikTok
- Viber
- WeTalk (Witk)
- Nimbuzz
- Popo Live
But tellingly, TikTok remains up. Why? Because it has registered with the Nepali government under the new law called the Social Media Directives 2080.
What is this “registration” thingy? Well, the government informed all these websites that they needed to officially register with them within 7 days. That is, set up a local office or at least give Nepal a way of holding them accountable. Most websites did not bother with the deadline, so the government switched the block switch.
So, when you try to open YouTube or Facebook today, you will get an error message or nothing. It’s not the whole internet that crashes—just these sites.
Why Is the Government Doing This?
It’s all about law and order on the part of the government. They want these giant tech companies to be regulated by laws, pay their taxes, and collaborate with them when something that is dangerous or unlawful goes viral on the internet—like fake news, cyberbullying, scams, hate speech, or crime.
And this ban didn’t happen out of the blue either. It comes after a Supreme Court decree, so even the highest judges believe there needs to be some sort of control. So technically, the government isn’t going against anyone.
But not everyone is signed up. Some people believe the government wants to suppress freedom of speech—especially when citizens use social media to criticize politicians or expose corruption. We’ve seen this one before, too: remember how TikTok was brought down some time ago for “harmful content”? Now the net is being cast much wider.
As a regular citizen, I wonder: Is it truly for our protection, or is it to muzzle us? The reality is probably somewhere between.
How Does This Affect Us Ordinary Folks?
This is where it hurts the most. To many of us, social media is not about having fun—it’s about daily living. Here’s how the ban can harm:
Communication: No WhatsApp? That’s how we communicate with family members abroad!
Business: The majority of the little shops like mine sell their products through Facebook pages or online advertisements.
Learning: Students acquire their learning through YouTube tutorials and lectures. So now what?
Entertainment & News: YouTube or Instagram apps are likely the main source of news for many.
Also, this ban may affect jobs, especially for those who make their livelihood in digital marketing, content creation, or tourism. Nepal is trying to go digital, but this ban seems to be going back two steps.
Others will get on the sites using VPNs (apps that mask your location), but VPNs are not always free or secure. Not everybody has the know-how to get on them either, particularly seniors or rural dwellers.
Is This Forever or Just Temporary? Ban of Social media in Nepal
Good news: it’s not permanent—at least for the time being.
The government says the ban will be lifted once these companies register. So if Facebook or YouTube decide to follow the rules and sign up, we’ll get them back.
But how long will that take? No one knows. It may be days, weeks, or months. Big companies such as Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) may take their sweet time—or may flat-out deny. There is also the risk of court challenges. Just as TikTok’s earlier ban was challenged in the courts, so too can this ban be challenged in the courts.
Numerous organizations, including the Federation of Nepali Journalists, are already protesting that it harms press freedom and people’s right to communicate.
What Might Change As A Result Of This?
In the short term, life will become more difficult for those dependent upon social media as a means of conversation, for work, or studying. But in the longer term, a number of other things might happen:
More homegrown apps will come up: Nepali-made platforms will gain more prominence if the heavyweights continue to be blocked. That would be just great for local tech companies from all the districts of Nepal.
Users will turn to VPNs: That would be a security risk or introduce users to scams or hacking.
There could be protests: There are plenty of young people who are angry, and political tensions could rise.
Nepal’s reputation could suffer internationally: The rest of the world might perceive this as censorship, particularly if it goes on and on.
So yeah, things will be different—how much remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts – From One Simple Person to Another
At the end of the day, I’m simply a man doing his thing, trying to make a living and have a bit of fun on the internet. This ban feels puzzling and somewhat extreme. I get the need for rules and safety, but severing the tools that millions use does not seem like the best course of action.
Maybe this will make the giant tech companies take notice of Nepal now. Maybe it’ll even make our government more transparent and equitable in how they control the internet. Or maybe it’ll just make life harder for people like us.
Either way, I pray that we find a balance between responsibility and freedom. Meanwhile, we wait. Maybe exchange tips on how to stay connected. And hope common sense wins out—on both sides.
Stay safe, and keep questioning.