TikTok ban: Assessing the impact on Nepal’s democratic values

On November 13 the government of Nepal banned TikTok in the country . It argued that the decision was taken because the widely used short video application was causing disruptions to social structures and the overall social environment.

The banning of TikTok aligns with a cultural tendency within the democratic government of Nepal to resort to bans when issues arise, rather than opting for regulatory and monitoring measures. This approach has been observed in past instances, such as the prohibition of women travelling to specific countries due to cross-border trafficking concerns , the closure of certain futsal venues amidst issues, and the banning of ride-sharing and petrol sales in bottles following isolated incidents. The government’s inclination to choose bans over detailed regulation and identification of root causes is evident.