Kathmandu, 7 Sept: Nepal is heating up after the government suddenly blocked 26 major social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X (Twitter). People across the country are angry, calling the move a direct attack on freedom of speech and daily life.

🚨 Streets Fill With Protesters

From Kathmandu to Pokhara and Butwal, young people, students, and digital workers are marching with placards reading “Free Our Internet” and “No Ban, Just Regulation.”
Many are even using TikTok and VPNs to livestream the protests — turning the government ban into a viral moment.

📰 Journalists & Media Bodies Speak Up

This is not just the public — Nepal’s press and media groups are also raising their voice:

• Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) strongly condemned the decision, saying it violates the Constitution and threatens press freedom.
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged the government to rethink the ban, calling it a violation of people’s right to information.
• Digital Freedom Coalition and other civic groups warned that this could be the start of digital censorship if not rolled back.

Even the Press Council Nepal, which has been pushing for more responsible social media use, is under fire. Critics say government regulation must not become a tool to silence dissent.

📚 Life, Business, and Education Disrupted

• Students relying on YouTube and online notes are now struggling to continue classes.
• Small businesses and entrepreneurs who sell through Facebook/Instagram or talk to customers on WhatsApp have been hit hard.
• Newsrooms and journalists face problems collecting news and talking with sources.

Tourism operators say WhatsApp and Messenger were their main way to talk to foreign clients. Now they are forced to switch to Viber or email.

🏛 Government’s Stand

The Ministry of Communication says the block is temporary and platforms can be restored once they register in Nepal, open a local office, and agree to follow the country’s 2023 social media directive. Officials claim the ban is to stop fake accounts, scams, and hate speech — not to suppress citizens.

🔮 What’s Next?

More rallies and sit-ins are planned in the coming days. Media unions, rights groups, and civil society are pressuring Parliament to bring a balanced law that regulates harmful content but doesn’t completely block communication.

For now, TikTok, Viber, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live are still running — and protesters are using them to stay connected.