Nepal on Thursday banned major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, after they failed to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

The ministry had set a seven-day deadline from August 28 for companies to complete registration. When the deadline expired on Wednesday night, no global platforms, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Alphabet (YouTube), X (formerly Twitter), Reddit or LinkedIn, had submitted applications.

TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz and Popo Live were listed as registered. Telegram and Global Diary are still in the approval process, officials said.

The ministry has directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to disable unregistered platforms from Thursday midnight. Spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur said any platform completing registration would be restored the same day.

The ban is expected to disrupt communication for millions of Nepalese living abroad. “More than seven million youth are staying outside Nepal for higher studies or employment. This will directly affect their communication with family and friends at home,” said senior journalist Pralhad Rijal.

Observers also pointed out that Facebook’s recent inclusion of Nepal in its monetisation programme will be derailed, affecting local creators who had begun earning from videos, reels and stories.

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) condemned the decision, calling it a violation of press freedom and citizens’ right to information.

“The government’s move to ban social media sites without giving alternatives not only restricts freedom of expression and press freedom but also affects the right to information guaranteed by the constitution,” said Ram Prasad Dahal, FNJ general secretary.

The government has not yet received any response from Facebook or other companies.

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With inputs from PTI