An Investigation of Regulating and Monitoring Social Media in Nepal

Abstract

Abstract: Social media has been the source of information dissipation from a young age to adulthood. ‘There are 15.4 million internet users and 13.5 million social media users in Nepal, which is 43.5 percent of the total population, and mobile connection stood at 120.6 percent of the total population. It may be higher for social media users.   Social Media misuse is also increasing; in 2024, it reached 4,937. The main objective is to identify the misuse of social media, the ways of regulating and monitoring social media in Nepal and the people's perception regarding the misuse of social media. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to people from different geographical areas and backgrounds, from students to Ph.D. holders, staff and others. The young generation, including the students, found that 29.9 percent of young students answered the questions; they were the most social media users also combined with teachers and students. The age range 15 to 20 years of age found 14.5 percent and 29.9 percent female were respondents. The balance between privacy and freedom of expression needed to be balanced; this was delicate work while preparing acts.  Nepal’s neighboring countries have some sort of acts to regulate and monitor social media. China has its social media; it has its platforms. India has also had offices of the platforms, and they have made them responsible for the platforms.  Among the respondents, 37.1 percent are Facebook users, and 34.3 percent are all the above. If we combined this, 81.4 percent used Facebook. It indicates Facebook is the most liked social media in Nepal. 99.7 percent agreed that there should be integrated acts to regulate and monitor social media, likewise, platforms should also be made responsible for filtering the posted materials. People should also be responsible for using social media.  The government should make a filtering mechanism and coordinate. People should be trained to use and misuse social media extensively and the misused contents and words, sentences. Photos, sketches, audio, and visuals could be predefined and controlled from Nepal's platforms.