What not to do on social media? Govt unveils a long list
The government has introduced a Social Media Management Guidelines 2080. The Council of Ministers passed the set of rules on Thursday, citing misleading contents posted on social networks like Facebook, X (previously Twitter), Tik Tok, YouTube and Instagram.
The 19-point directive has made it mandatory for registration of social media networks operating in Nepal and also outlined what social media users should not do.
Social media users should not create an anonymous or pseudonymous identity (fake ID); they should not generate and share content through anonymous or fake ID or share content of others or comment on the materials, the directive states.
The users should not spread hatred targeting any community, caste, gender, religion, age, caste, class, occupation, sect, marital status, family status, physical and mental condition, origin, sexual minority, language and other groups or categories protected by the law. Apart from trolling, the directive has also banned the publication/broadcast and sharing of texts, audiovisuals and images that upset social harmony.
The ban covers the use of offensive words, audiovisuals, images, hateful expressions, swearing and hate speech, including sounds, words, pictures and videos.
Posting, sharing or commenting on a topic that can spread violence at individual, group or community level affecting social harmony goes against the guidelines.
It also covers activities that promote child labor, human trafficking, polygamy and child marriage, apart from the publication of a person’s distorted image, publication/broadcast of photos and videos of private affairs as well as broadcast/publication of obscene words, pictures, videos and audio animations along with comments on such materials.
Promotion of content harmful to children goes against the ban that covers activities such as child sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, prostitution, publication or transmission of false, misleading information and falsification of information and cyber-bullying. Cyber-bullying should be understood as actions such as discouraging, threatening, harassing, insulting or spreading false information through the use of technology, per the directive. It has also banned drug use and sales, gambling as well as publication or broadcast of contents related to terrorism through social media.
The banned activities also include hacking someone's ID and information, using social media for phishing/faking, posting or sharing obscene photos/videos without context, advertisement and sale of goods prohibited by prevailing laws and copying and sharing of activities deemed illegal.
Two injured in Bhaktapur leopard attack
Two persons were injured in a leopard attack in Bhaktapur on Friday.
The injured have been identified as Amrita Kandel (65) and Sangita Ale Magar (33) of Bhaktapur Municipality-3, DSP Basanta Pathak, Information Officer at the District Police Range, Bhaktapur, said.
They have been taken to the Madhyapur Hospital for treatment.
Pathak said that the duo were injured while trying to take the wild cat under control.
Inter-caste couple provided Rs 100, 000 as incentive
Chhayanath Rara Municipality of Mugu district has provided Rs 100, 000 as incentive to an inter-caste couple.
The district provided the incentive to Devi Krishna Kami (25) of Charapgoan from Chhayanath Rara-10 and of Ranjita Budha (24) of Libra from Soru Rural Municipality-4.
The 12th municipal assembly of the municipality had decided to provide monetary incentive to the inter-caste couple.
Municipality Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham informed that they had taken the decision to provide incentive to the inter-caste couple in a bid to reduce caste discrimination.
He also suggested other local levels to follow suit.
French trekker dies after falling off cliff
A foreign tourist died after falling off a cliff during trekking in the mountainous region of Rasuwa district on Thursday.
The deceased has been identified as 68-year-old French national Patrick Jean Marie Moul, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Subash Budhathoki.
Moul was severely injured while trekking at Lumthang, a way to reach Kyangjen, Gosaikunda. He had embarked on trekking via the Trinetra Trekking Agency.
The foreign trekker was rescued by the security persons mobilized at Langtang area.
Moul was rushed to Kathmandu for treatment via Fishtail helicopter but he breathed his last in the flight, according to police.
The locals here have suggested the travel and trekking companies to provide guide to the senior trekkers and tourists for their safety.
