The country that banned TikTok to “preserve social harmony”

Nepal joins the list of nations that have imposed restrictions on the platform, which has around one billion monthly users worldwide.

Nepal banned TikTok in China because the social network’s content was “harmful to social harmony.”

The decision comes days after the country approved a new rule requiring social media companies to set up offices in the country.

TikTok, which has about a billion monthly users, has been banned from several countries, including India.

Earlier this year, Montana became the first US state to ban it, while the British Parliament blocked it from its network.

Communications and IT Minister Rekha Sharma told BBC Nepali, the BBC’s service in Nepal, that the platform had published inappropriate content.

He added that “the ban will come into force immediately. Telecom authorities have been instructed to enforce it.”

But Gagan Thapa, a leader of the Nepali Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition, questioned the government’s decision to impose a ban on TikTok.

He said this is an attempt to limit freedom of expression and that authorities should focus on regulating the platform.

TikTok has come under scrutiny from authorities around the world over concerns that user data could be passed on to the Chinese government.

Its parent company, ByteDance, has already denied the accusation. TikTok did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment on the Nepalese government’s latest ban.

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Although TikTok lags behind Facebook and Instagram in terms of user numbers, its growth among young people far outstrips that of its competitors.

According to local media reports, more than 1,600 cases of cybercrime linked to TikTok have been recorded in Nepal in the last four years.

According to BBC Media Action’s report on internet usage in Nepal, TikTok is the third most used platform nationwide.

While YouTube and Facebook are popular among Internet users of all age groups, TikTok is very popular among younger age groups, with more than 80% of users aged 16 to 24 using the platform.

Pakistan has temporarily banned the app at least four times since October 2020, while the online shopping service on the platform was shut down in Indonesia last month.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.