8th September 2025, Kathmandu
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has spoken out about why the government banned some social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube in Nepal.
Prime Minister Oli’s Stance
He says the ban is necessary because these companies must follow Nepali law, and that Nepal’s independence is more important than anything else.
What the Prime Minister Said
Nepal comes first: Oli said that the country’s dignity, independence, and right to rule itself are the most important things. They are more important than people losing their jobs because of the ban.
The government is not against social media: He said that his party, the CPN-UML, doesn’t hate social media. The problem is that these foreign companies make money in Nepal but don’t follow the country’s rules.
He called protesters “puppets”: Oli was very direct about the people protesting the ban, especially the young people from ‘Gen Z’. He said they are like “puppets” who are just protesting to cause trouble, not because they have a good reason.
Why the Ban Happened
The government, through the Ministry of Information and Technology, banned 26 social media apps. They did this on September 4th. The main reasons for the ban are:
To make sure the companies register with the government.
To control bad or harmful content.
To make the companies responsible for what happens on their platforms.
Prime Minister Oli is strongly defending the social media ban. He says it is a matter of national pride and law, and he doesn’t think the problems it causes are as important as the country’s independence.
For more: Prime Minister Oli’s Stance