Online Desk : Nepal`s government announced Thursday that it is blocking major social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, citing the companies` failure to comply with new registration requirements.

Minister for Communication and Information Prithvi Subba Gurung said that around two dozen social platforms popular in Nepal were issued repeated notices to register their operations in the country, but failed to do so. As a result, they will now be blocked with immediate effect.

Platforms such as TikTok, Viber, and three others will continue to operate in Nepal, as they have fulfilled the government’s registration criteria.

Authorities have asked social media companies to appoint official liaison offices in Nepal and comply with forthcoming legislation aimed at regulating online platforms. A new bill, currently under discussion in parliament, seeks to make these platforms more "responsible and accountable" for the content they host.

However, the proposed law has drawn criticism from rights groups and civil society members, who argue it could be used to suppress dissent and limit freedom of expression. Critics have labelled the move as a potential tool for censorship and a threat to citizens’ fundamental rights.

Despite the backlash, government officials maintain that legal oversight of social media is necessary to ensure accountability for content shared and published online.