Social Media Ban Hits Nepali Creators and Film Industry, Raises Free Speech Fears
भदौ २२, २०८२ ११:५९
Kathmandu: The Nepal government’s decision to ban 26 major social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and X has severely impacted everything from film promotions to the livelihoods of content creators. Stakeholders have also warned that the move is an attempt to suppress freedom of expression. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has already directed the Nepal Telecommunication Authority to shut down all platforms except those officially listed. Telecom operators and internet service providers are now rapidly disabling the banned platforms.
Confusion in Film Promotion
Producer Ram Babu Gurung said the shutdown has created confusion in promoting his upcoming film Jari 2, scheduled for release on September 19. According to him, social media has become the cheapest, most accessible, and reliable medium for movie promotion, and filmmakers as well as media workers are being hit hardest. While the teaser of Jari 2 and the song Amlari Phool have already been released on YouTube, the remaining trailers and songs are still pending. Gurung expressed concern that the ban will disrupt the film’s publicity.
Similarly, promotions for the movie Balidan, set to release on September 29 (Phulpati), have also been affected. Producer Santosh Sen said although the teaser for the song Aama has been released, plans to launch the full song on YouTube have been postponed due to the shutdown. He said the release will happen only after social media platforms complete their listing process with the government.
Impact on Content Creation and Livelihoods
Singer and composer Kali Prasad Baskota said social media had given artists an open stage to showcase their art and sustain their livelihoods. But the government’s decision has cut off that path. He warned that young Nepali artists, who brought foreign currency into Nepal through platforms like YouTube and Facebook, may now be forced to leave the country. “The art sector is left frustrated when the government shuts down social media without providing alternatives,” he said.
Saroj Karki, owner of the YouTube channel Project Kura, said the shutdown affects not only creators but also an entire chain of workers, including thumbnail designers, editors, researchers, and scriptwriters. He noted that social media had been providing employment opportunities to many youths under 20, and this decision could take away their livelihoods.
Dipesh Tripathi, owner and content creator of The Nepali Comment, said creators who produce long-form videos are facing the biggest challenges. He explained that the shutdown has also hit paid promotions, brand agreements, and festival campaigns. “This decision has hurt not just creators, but also brands and entrepreneurs, from small businesses to big companies,” he said.
Musician Arjun Pokharel, while supporting the idea that YouTube should register in Nepal, questioned what alternatives the government would offer to content creators who depend on it for their livelihoods. He said the government collects 5% tax from digital earnings, but now income will drop, which will also reduce state revenue.
Concerns Over Freedom of Expression
Content creator Tripathi said the closure of social media platforms seems like an attempt to control content itself. He pointed out that the directives for regulating social media and the proposed Social Media Bill are similar, suggesting a wider attempt to restrict freedom of expression.
Singer Baskota also said the ban appears to be aimed at silencing the public and preventing awareness from spreading. Calling the move “highly unpopular,” he expressed suspicion that the government wants to stifle young voices because they are aware and capable of bringing change.
Project Kura’s Saroj Karki compared the shutdown to press restrictions during the Panchayat era. “Closing entire platforms because of a few bad actors is like shutting down a printing press during Panchayat,” he said. While acknowledging the importance of listing social media in Nepal, he expressed concern that the bill and guidelines, if enforced in this way, would directly threaten citizens’ freedom of expression.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: भदौ २२, २०८२ ११:५९
