Nepal has decided to stop people from using TikTok, a popular short video app, because the government thinks it creates problems in the country's "social harmony." This choice was made in a meeting and shared by Rekha Sharma, the minister of communications and information technology.

She explained, "The government is banning TikTok because this app has been regularly used to share content that causes issues in how people get along and can disrupt families and our social connections."

Nepal, a country with 30 million people, is now joining other places that have limited the use of TikTok. The app's parent company, ByteDance, was started by Chinese entrepreneurs. TikTok has been getting more attention and concern, especially in the United States, about how it handles user data and if it could be used by the Chinese government to spy on or influence its many users. The app is used by over 1 billion people around the world, including 150 million in the United States.

Achyuta Nand Mishra, who speaks for the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, said on Tuesday that the group in charge of regulating telecom services has told all companies providing internet to stop TikTok. He mentioned that the app will probably be turned off in the next 24 hours.

Due to these new regulations, users in Nepal faced difficulties accessing TikTok's website on Tuesday. The government's decision to enforce these guidelines, which include the requirement for social media platforms to establish a local office in Nepal, has implications for users and the content they share.

The government's focus on preventing the spread of content that promotes hatred against castes, communities, or religions aligns with an effort to maintain social harmony. Additionally, the prohibition against using fake identification for posting aims to enhance transparency and accountability on these platforms.

However, specific details about how these guidelines will be implemented and the penalties for non-compliance have not been clearly communicated by the government. This lack of information leaves users and social media platforms uncertain about the practical aspects of adhering to the new rules.

As the situation unfolds, TikTok has not yet provided a response to the government's actions in Nepal. The accessibility issues faced by users underscore the evolving landscape of social media regulations and the challenges platforms encounter when adapting to new guidelines set by governing authorities.

The choice to ban TikTok faced criticism from civil society groups and certain lawmakers. Santosh Sigdel, a lawyer and the founding chair of the nonprofit organization Digital Rights Nepal, expressed concerns, stating that the government did not offer a valid reason or provide data supporting its decision. The lack of transparency regarding the basis for banning TikTok has raised questions among various stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and justification for such regulatory actions.

In 2020, India, which is Nepal's neighbor, banned TikTok after a deadly border clash with China, resulting in the loss of 20 Indian soldiers' lives. Following suit, the U.S. government and nearly 40 states prohibited the use of the app on government-owned devices. In May, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a law to ban app downloads from next year, though its enforceability has been questioned by experts. TikTok has contested these bans in court, asserting that they violate the First Amendment and lack evidence of legitimate national security risks.

Despite these efforts to limit its use, TikTok remains immensely popular among users. On average, an American viewer spends 80 minutes daily on TikTok, surpassing the time spent on both Facebook and Instagram combined. This continued popularity underscores the app's widespread appeal despite the regulatory challenges it faces in various countries.