Nepal’s Social Media Blackout: Beijing’s False Narrative Empire Expands

On September 4, 2025, Nepal ordered the blocking of 26 major social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and X/Twitter—after the companies refused to comply with new government rules requiring local registration, grievance redress mechanisms, and offices inside Nepal. TikTok and Viber survived the ban because they complied with these demands.