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.

Under the directive, platforms must register with the Ministry of Communication, secure a licence within three months, renew it every three years, and appoint a contact person inside Nepal.

“Many platforms ignored the directives,” Minister Gurung told journalists. The ministry subsequently instructed the NTA to begin blocking unregistered platforms. In turn, the regulator asked the Internet Service Providers Association to execute the ban.

“We have received the regulator’s letter,” said Sudhir Parajuli, president of the association. “We have asked for a technical committee to be formed to outline the process for blocking access.”

According to Parajuli, bans will take effect from Friday evening, once procedures are in place.

ISPs are also preparing to issue public notices to their customers.

The government’s move has sparked widespread frustration. Many X users denounced the decision as regressive and harmful in the digital era.

“This is likely a very unpopular decision among citizens and the Nepali diaspora community,” wrote Jaya Jung Mahat, co-founder of the Nepal Institute for Policy Research.

Sujeev Shakya, CEO of Beed Management and an executive at the Nepal Economic Forum, added, “Nepal decided to shut down Meta and other platforms at 12 pm. We have yet to see the Cabinet decision. Hopefully, Nepal understands the consequences.”

Another commentator, Mahesh Kushwaha of the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy, went further: “Does this idiot government give one hoot about hundreds of thousands of migrant workers abroad who rely on these platforms to connect with families back home? Ridiculous!”

The government maintains it has made repeated requests for compliance, and the Supreme Court has backed its position.

On August 17, a full bench of justices ordered that social media platforms must be listed in Nepal and subjected to oversight by a competent authority. The ruling emphasised that companies must be held accountable, discourage fake identities, and operate within Nepal’s legal framework.

The government’s final notice last week required platforms to appoint a point of contact, a resident grievance officer, and a compliance officer in Nepal. The 2023 Directive further stipulates that any entity seeking to operate a social media service in Nepal must formally register with the ministry and submit supporting documentation.

Minister Gurung defended the government’s action. “We tried to hold discussions through diplomatic channels, but the companies refused,” he said. “A meeting was held, but without results. Therefore, we have decided to gradually close all unregistered platforms in Nepal starting today.”

Experts, however, criticised the decision as shortsighted.

“This is a harsh move. Shutting down social media will impact social, economic, cultural, and constitutional rights,” said Santosh Sigdel, executive director of Digital Rights Nepal. “It will also affect rights guaranteed by Nepal’s constitution regarding digital space.”

Sigdel added that lack of clarity on the government’s definition of social media platforms has only deepened uncertainty. “This makes the decision difficult to implement.”

He also noted that social media is the lifeline for over five million Nepalis living abroad for study and work, and it plays a critical role in health, education, and professional sectors inside the country.

Another digital rights expert argued that Nepal should regulate social media through laws passed by Parliament, rather than administrative directives. Different countries, the expert pointed out, take varying approaches—some require registration only when platforms reach a certain number of users.

In India, for example, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and its 2021 IT Rules impose obligations on platforms, including self-regulation and content classification.

Nepali experts believe global platforms hesitate to enter Nepal due to policy uncertainty. “They want clear, specific regulations,” one expert said.

Social media dominates internet use in Nepal, accounting for nearly 80 percent of total traffic, largely from Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, X, and YouTube. According to the Management and Information System report, Nepal has 2.97 million internet subscribers.

Data Reportal’s January 2024 figures show 13.5 million active Facebook users in Nepal, 10.85 million Messenger users, 3.6 million Instagram users, 1.5 million LinkedIn users, and 466,100 X users.

The sudden ban has alarmed small business owners, many of whom depend on social media to market and sell products, especially ahead of the festive season.

Kiran Timsina, co-founder of Urban Girl, UG Cakes, and UG Bazaar, wrote on Facebook, “No matter what, we gotta thrive in the Republic.” He shared his TikTok and Viber handles as alternatives for placing orders.

Nepal’s recent record with platform bans highlights a pattern of reversals. In November 2023, the government banned TikTok, citing threats to social harmony, only to lift the ban in August 2024 after its parent company ByteDance pledged compliance.

Similarly, in July 2024, Telegram was banned for its alleged use in fraud and money laundering, but has since applied for registration with the ministry.