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Social sites have lured our sensation and apparently offered us some tangible blessings to ease our lives. Minus social sites, hardly any second of modern-day life can be imagined. From connecting to kith and kin to fellow friends to sharpening the creativity, social sites are acknowledged boundlessly. However, those much-endeared social sites have shed toxic abuses and irreparable multifold losses on the spectrum of sound social life along with fabric of well-formed faiths. Giving us an inch, those have taken away miles causing us plunge into more than dozens of chronic bottlenecks by fermenting exponential enervation on both the individual and social life of mass users. Pluralities of paradoxes and irony have shaped, rather intoxicated and addicted, the new generation into a deeper sense of dismay and negative note.

The foremost paradox of social sites is that they are causing users to spend and waste huge amounts of time for no reason. Many reports are released and those spotlight the fact that most users hang on sites merely for updates, already known news and sharing personal opinion and ideas which might not generate any productive outcomes into either of individual or social life. Brain rot and doom scrolling have festered the situation. As per statistics of 2024, a person spends an average of 143 minutes per day on social media. However, 40 percent of people—who have at least one social media account—feel they have to check them at least once every three hours to avoid feeling anxious. From grandmother to an eight-year-old kid, all are in virtual communities and racing to swipe the newsfeed every 10 minutes. Such an added sense of addiction and intoxication on social sites, thus, obligates people to waste quality time for not any quality output at all.  

Besides waste of time, a serious decline in the creativity of human beings is one of the horrendous impacts of social sites noticed in the last few years. Students have begun to lose the self-generated answers. ChatGPT and Deepseek have converted all curious learning minds into mere a murmuring machine and mute bystander toward self-built analysis or logics. Academicians often have been defamed for plagiarism. Relying on easily available materials on the single click or on tip of a finger, the human mind has retarded and retired from being creative. Being innovative has been intelligibly blocked in the course of being imitative from social sites.  School children to university graduates across the globe have been reportedly losing self-creativity because of excessive reliance on social sites. Most of them have metamorphosed to mundane copy-paste machines.

Following the waste of time and loss of creativity, excess misinformation, which is called infodemics, has browbeaten and created terror on the public domain. Fake news, scams, scandals and unverified personal assumptions have confused people a lot. Many severely shocking news are also posted that have generated negative worldviews, stigmatized people, relegated people to helplessness, uncovered the sense of only decay and destruction everywhere. Often it has worked as psychodemic and apocalyptic terror too.  

Apart from the aforementioned abuses, substantially alarming is that it has even emerged as a new form of war. Authors Emerson Brooking and PW Singer in their book titled ‘Like War: Weaponization of Social Media’ convincingly draw an analogy between modern war fort and social media. It has been heavily used to underestimate others, extend control and undue leverage, belittle or disparage others’ fame, seduce others’ success, defame rest and destroy the image or strength and so on. Any objection will be posted on social media and that shall be responded with a flow of counter likes and dislikes or even much vituperative remarks and comments. 

Crimes and social disorder, sexual misconducts or activities of extreme unethical tempo cannot be denied as the bane of social sites these days. A harrowing scenario of a ballooning graph of family discord and divorce cases noticed in the recent past in Nepal is mostly generated and commenced on the backdrop of social sites. As per a news report, Kathmandu district court alone has 4,400-plus petitions seeking divorce. The cases of divorce count on top of the list among all writs filed in base or district courts nationally. Social sites have fueled disassociation, conspiracy, unwonted connections too, which has spoiled the rhythm of morality and righteous life in the infatuation of happy life. It has crumbled and crushed the ethics in society.  

As social sites avail all types of contents, it equally assists the people having wrong intention and intending to foil the fabric of disciplined society. A research article titled ‘Anti-social Network; Framing Social Media in Wartime’ (2020) mentions that how to hack the password is one of much searched contents in Google. Such a nature of human or social media users drives society into more antisocial modes and intends to break the society than to make it.

Social sites have even inflicted societies through online robbery and other types of frauds, time and again in the name of prizes, lotteries and other types of funds gone unclaimed or secretly deposited to our names by someone else and so on. Cyber bureau of Nepal Police is reportedly receiving about a couple of dozen such complaints of cheating and other frauds daily.

Excessive digital addiction that is eventually resulting in health hazards and psychodemic symptoms are no less worrisome. Extreme depersonalization is what has seriously taken the nerve of the people. Because of social sites, people hardly have time for themselves and families. Being excessively occupied with gadgets brutally kills time that others friends and family members may be seeking.  

More show-ups and filthy promotions in light of social sites have paralyzed the honest nature of human actions and activities. Demeaning social services for mere fantasy and photo shoots have often doubled the spirit of humiliation and marginalization for the rest. Victims have been unnecessarily exposed to society. Whereas posting the exclusively personal activities like family celebrations and wishes on sites have far deviated and digressed the sites from its real use. Rather than attending seminars, posting a photo of it becomes important; rather than taking tea, posting a shot gets prioritized and appealing to the masses. Filthy promotion of personal activities has cultivated a sense of useless competition in meaningless manners among humans.    

In a nutshell, as of 2024, approximately 5.4bn people use social media and it has risked converting this generation as an ‘e-tribe’, a popular term coined by South Korean academic experts in 2006. Being vastly virtual might have blessed us to have little delights from learning to earning as well but have profoundly paralyzed society and caused it to sail at the trajectory of lethargy, laziness, immorality, health-hazards and many other obnoxiously negative notes.  So, let’s be aware of such unsocial outcomes of social sites before it becomes too late to respond. 

Giving aid is not purely an act of kindness or responsible duty. It has seen and unseen motives. This rule also applies to most of the foreign aid. This does not mean that all aid is self-interested. There are also good donors, who donate selflessly. However, in most of the cases, foreign aid is also a tool to promote national interests. With the arrival of Donald Trump to power, a US official recently categorically stated that “the US should only spend abroad if it makes America ‘stronger’, ‘safer’ or ‘more prosperous’.” The world needs more redistribution if it has to overcome poverty and inequality, and thereby make the world a safer place for all.

US global leadership and its grant aid are critically inter-linked.

Following this statement, the US State Department has issued a halt to nearly all existing foreign assistance (grants) and paused new aid. This instruction was given through an internal memo sent to officials and US embassies around the world. The new US president seems to view foreign aid as a waste of resources, so he has announced a thorough review and a cut. The leaked memo follows President Trump's executive order issued on the very first day in power on January 20 for a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance. He wants to take this time for critical review of existing US aid policy and align it with his own vision. If he keeps the election vows, many countries will no longer receive aid from the US.

The US is the world's biggest international aid donor. It spent nearly $68bn on about 15,000 activities in 204 countries in 2023 alone. For 2024 it was $39bn, 8,000 activities and 189 countries. This is nearly three times the annual budget of Nepal for the fiscal year 2023-24. While the US spent nearly $50bn on average in the last decade, the spending for the last year was already substantially reduced by about 26 percent for unknown reasons. This is a 47 percent reduction compared to the 2023 spending. The new memo is likely to result in further reduction in everything from development assistance to military aid. Media have reported that the memo makes exceptions only for emergency food aid in few troubled places and for military funding for Israel and Egypt. Ukraine alone received $17bn in 2023 alone for the US.

Ths is going to affect several developing countries as any US aid is now subject to new approval. This means that ongoing US-supported development projects may have to be closed down around the world in nearly 200 countries. Some staff of the US aid agency, USAID, will also lose their jobs as they will lose funding. Both the project staff and beneficiaries will be affected. Many will lose their jobs and others will not get the benefits from as many as 8,000 projects. The effect seems to be massive if all projects are terminated and other agencies, such as the United Nations organizations or national governments, do not take them up immediately.

Experts argue that the move could affect a wide range of critical development projects globally, including water, health, sanitation and shelter. Some of the ongoing developmental projects will be terminated without completion. It should be noted here that most of the US aid goes on water, sanitation and shelter sectors of the developing countries such as Nepal. Critical vaccination might also have to be disrupted. Countries such as Ukraine will have to end their internal and external wars of various kinds for various purposes.

The proposed budget freeze is likely to undermine the global leadership of the US as the richest and the most powerful country on Earth. Some have justified the freeze stating that it was impossible for the new administration to assess whether existing foreign aid commitments “are duplicated, effective and consistent with President Trump’s foreign policy promises.” Others view that as the richest country, the US should not stop giving to the needy as it is the duty of the rich to share some of its resources with others. Most faiths of the world believe and uphold this conviction. They even believe that God gives only to those who give others selflessly. From this logic, President Trump should not stop giving, rather he should increase the aid and reduce narrow self-interests. This is how America will garner respect from around the globe. This respect will empower it to further lead the world in science, technology, economy and all-round development.

The US cut on foreign aid will affect Nepal also. It has been noted that there are three themes at the core of USAID’s work which are critical for Nepal’s development: supporting federalism, promoting inclusion and strengthening institutions and resilience. Under these core areas, the US provides support to Nepal for agriculture, good governance, disaster resilience, physical infrastructure, education, health and sanitation via its aid agency, the USAID. As the oldest and biggest bilateral donor of Nepal, USAID has pledged $659m or around Rs 81bn for 2020-2025 (about Rs 16bn annually, which is less than one percent of our annual budget) as stated in its Country Development Cooperation Strategy.

The USAID channelizes most of the aid money through local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) in Nepal, and thereby most of its budget is off-budget. As the agency traditionally prefers a community development approach, local NGOs implement most of the US projects in Nepal. These NGOs and their staff are likely to be directly affected by the aid cut. Considering Nepal as critical to regional stability and connectivity, the US has also been providing support through Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) for the power and road sectors as well as the annual budgetary system of the government. It also partners with the private sector in Nepal to foster US profit-oriented investments.

To conclude, the US grants aid to the world and Nepal is very vital. While the potential US aid freeze and likely cut is not at all a good news as it may undermine critical developmental and humanitarian needs of the developing countries and thereby the achievement of the SDG targets by 2030, it is also likely to affect the existing global leadership of the US, opening this space for emerging donors such as China. Indeed, the rich empower themselves by giving, and the unequal and poverty-stricken world needs more redistribution. Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. The US can be safer, stronger and more prosperous only in a poverty and inequality-free world.  Grant aid, a very small fraction of the overall US annual budget (about 0.7 percent), also opens the door to other business and strategic interests. While Nepal aims to graduate from the grouping of Least Developed Countries by 2026, the US, as the oldest development partner and a trusted friend, should not stop its grant aid to Nepal abruptly before Nepal ends its dependence on foreign aid.

In early October this year, Supreme Court Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut took charge of the judiciary as its head. Raut, a former advocate at the apex court, will lead the judiciary for nearly 18 months. While defending the special hearing at the parliament for his new role, Raut presented a 24-point action plan outlining his vision to make much-needed reforms in the judiciary.

But will CJ Raut really be able to walk the talk as the chief of a key organ of the state and restore public faith in it?

To safeguard democracy and maintain public trust, the judiciary must be fair, impartial and independent, which is a formidable task, indeed.

For Raut, the first challenge is improving the relationship between the Nepal Bar Association (NBA), an umbrella organization of Nepali attorneys, and the bench, at a time when the tussle between the two is worsening. This has resulted in delays in the appointment of judges in various courts, landing the judiciary in a mess and making the already-lethargic justice delivery system even worse.

Amid this tussle comes the apex court administration’s contempt of court case against the head of the NBA, Gopal Krishna Ghimire, in response to his demand for revisions in the ‘faulty’ Judicial Council Regulation. This comes after the council amended the regulation, placing the Supreme Court’s chief registrar at the second rank of high court if s/he gets appointed as a high court judge prompting the bar to decry the move as anti-constitutional.

NBA maintains that the council-effected change in the regulation affects career growth of senior judges working at the high court as the second rank in the court ensures early promotion to the coveted position of the chief judge and makes way for appointment as an apex court judge. NBA leaders believe the revised regulation will end up demoralizing high court judges.

Second, NBA believes that people’s faith in the judiciary is fading further with the recent judicial appointments by the council courting controversies and public criticism.

Third, certain controversial judgments on the part of the apex court over the years have tarnished the image of the apex court with the people openly criticizing them as if delays in justice delivery, corrupt practices and politicking were not enough.

Who’s responsible for this crisis in the judiciary?

Part of the blame goes to past CJs also. But is CJ Raut ready to mend ways, make a fresh start and transform the judiciary?

This question is important because the judiciary achieves legitimacy through excellent performance and impartial judgments.

At present, service-seekers feel that approaching courts for justice is a waste of time. Political agents feel safer than victims when a case lands at the courts. Public perception is that one gets justice if s/he is wealthy and/or powerful.

There’s a backlog of corruption cases in courts and if cases keep piling up with verdicts becoming a rarity, credibility of the judiciary will suffer further.

Scholars like Aristotle used to say, ‘justice is not a topic of argument but practical experience of heart’. However, that no longer remains relevant in the Nepali context.

For years, lawyers, judges, the public and other stakeholders have been demanding serious reforms within the judiciary, which has been facing some serious charges of corruption and political interference.

The actions of the Judicial Council, the apex body that appoints judges, almost always court controversy.

Owing to these factors, the new CJ should begin his reforms with the aim of enhancing the image of the judiciary as a free, fair and independent organ of the state. Obviously, the CJ can't perform this task alone, but he can at least make an honest effort.

The CJ can begin by seeking to win the trust of the NBA and the JC, especially in relation to the justice appointment process, and by taking action against judges performing below par. The JC has no other option than correcting the faulty regulation as it did not bother to consult the stakeholders while making changes in it. This move will help raise the level of public trust toward the judiciary.

The basic principles of the UN also state that the state should guarantee judicial independence, so it is the duty of all state organs, including the judiciary, to uphold judicial independence.

It’s time to steer the judiciary in the right direction by working together with all stakeholders concerned and the CJ should lead this effort.

Let me begin with a real-life incident.

A fifth-grade student asked his father for 100 rupees. The father politely asked for a cause while the boy's grandfather flung 1,000 rupees at him, saying, "This is all yours,". He looked at his son for being reluctant for his beloved grandson. This emotional liberality twisted financial responsibility, motivating the boy to seek more money consistently, claiming his grandfather's gift. The incidence exhibits a gap in the grandfather's financial awareness, as well as the coincidental teaching of poor financial habits in the early-age student. It emphasizes the significance of including financial literacy into school curricula to develop responsible behaviors in young students.

Financial literacy is key

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines financial literacy as the awareness, knowledge, skills, attitude and behavior required to make effective financial decisions for personal well-being. The fundamental concepts of financial literacy include increasing earnings, planning for the future, protecting financial well-being, spending wisely and borrowing responsibly for development. According to American economist Alan Greenspan, financial education needs to start early in life in order to have an influence that encourages young students to make wise financial decisions. Furthermore, financially knowledgeable guardians might discuss their income and expenditure status with youngsters to teach them how to spend money wisely based on their level of comprehension. Integrating financial literacy into school curricula is critical for preparing students to make informed decisions, set financial objectives and avoid potential traps.

Importance for Nepal

According to the "Baseline Survey on Financial Literacy in Nepal" conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) in 2022, Nepal's national financial literacy rate of 57.9 percent remains a major concern, showing that more than half of the population lacks basic financial understanding. These findings highlight the necessity of targeted financial literacy activities in Nepal, particularly its incorporation into school education as a foundation of financial literacy to bridge the knowledge gap across generations and encourage informed financial decision-making. Nepal's central bank, the NRB, promotes financial literacy to assist people make informed financial decisions. The 2022 Financial Literacy Framework envisions financially capable individuals for Nepal's prosperity. The NRB's Unified Directive, 2080, mandates that banks and financial institutions (BFIs) devote one percent of net profit to corporate social responsibility (CSR), five percent to financial literacy of such funds (at least 10 percent in each province) and incorporate financial literacy programs into annual plans.

According to the directive, financial awareness and literacy programs should be carried out with the goal of CSR, rather than to promote their enterprises. NRB promotes demand-side improvement through podcasts, messaging, films, success stories, policies, digital finance communications and training programs such as ToT and manuals to increase public financial knowledge and competence. These programs must be integrated into school curricula in order to reach the target population at an early age to achieve the best possible program outcomes.

Integration with school curricula

Age-appropriate strategies may be used to include financial literacy at various educational levels. Curricula may be developed as a learning plan based on the most effective models that meet local and global standards. For example, interactive learning strategies such as games, simulations, quizzes and storytelling may be used to teach essential concepts such as saving, spending and recognizing the value of money at the primary school level. Secondary school students can learn about financial decision-making, debt management and budgeting through projects and case studies. Collaboration with financial institutions on hands-on activities and real-world applications can help to improve learning at all levels.

Local governments play an important role in developing financial literacy by incorporating it into local policies and school curriculum. In doing so, the Center for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD) can play a critical role in incorporating financial education into local policies and curricula as a standard financial literacy framework aligned with national education policies, as well as assisting local governments in contextualizing them to meet community needs. Local governments working with multi-stakeholder partnerships can provide technical assistance and design teacher training programs on how to effectively deliver financial literacy lessons, develop age-appropriate learning materials, and create feedback mechanisms to adapt curricula to local socioeconomic realities. This strategy guarantees that financial education is integrated into Nepal's educational system in a practical, inclusive and sustainable manner. South Africa’s “financial literacy for all” initiative, which includes a nationwide curriculum, can serve as a model for Nepal in reaching communities through schools and local centers ensuring that the curriculum reflects our evolving local financial landscape.

Conclusion  

Integrating financial literacy into school curricula, providing resources and collaborating with local governments, financial institutions, training organizations and other stakeholders can help ensure that programs follow a consistent curriculum structure. Schools can focus on practical financial skills, and communities may help with awareness efforts. “Save First, Spend Smart!" is directly related to financial literacy since saving should be considered a priority rather than an afterthought. This habit enables younger students to save consistently and practice sound financial management later in life. A financially literate generation will result in less debt, more savings and more financial independence, bolstering Nepal's economic stability and prosperity while also assuring a prosperous financial future for everyone.

The author holds an MPhil degree in education from the Kathmandu University