Nepal has stopped people from using a big app called TikTok. They say the app is bad for people getting along with each other. TikTok is used by lots of people around the world, but some other countries have stopped it too. A person who works for Nepal’s government said TikTok can spread mean things and they won’t let it work in Nepal anymore.

Some people are worried because they think everyone should be able to say what they want. A man who helps lead a big group in Nepal doesn’t like the ban. He thinks the government should just make sure TikTok is safe, not stop it. TikTok’s big company says it’s not doing anything wrong, but some people are still not sure.

In Nepal, there have been many problems because of TikTok. A lot of young people there use TikTok more than other apps. A report says that most people who use the internet and are young like TikTok. In other countries, like Pakistan and Indonesia, they have also stopped TikTok sometimes.

Original news source: Nepal bans TikTok citing disruption to social harmony (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will read the article and then work together to come up with a brief summary of what they read in their own words. They should focus on the main points: the TikTok ban in Nepal, the government’s reasons, opposition to the ban, and TikTok’s popularity among the youth. Afterward, each group will share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the article such as “Governments should be able to ban apps like TikTok” or “Social media apps are harmful to society”. Students will walk around the room and sign their names under agree or disagree for each statement. After everyone has voted, discuss the results as a class and allow students to explain their opinions.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “TikTok” on the board and ask students to say or write down any words or phrases that come to their mind related to the article. This may include “ban,” “Nepal,” “government,” “young people,” “internet,” etc. After a couple of minutes, review the words as a class and discuss the connections.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask the students to imagine they are journalists reporting on the story. In pairs or small groups, they must create an attention-grabbing headline that summarizes the article’s main event. Encourage creativity and accuracy. Share the headlines with the class and discuss which ones best capture the essence of the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the students work in pairs to discuss and write down their predictions about the future implications of the TikTok ban in Nepal. Prompt them to consider questions such as: Will the ban last? How might it affect young people in Nepal? Will other countries follow suit? Afterward, pairs can share their predictions with the class and compare ideas.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What app has Nepal stopped people from using?
2. Why did Nepal stop people from using TikTok?
3. What do some people in Nepal think about the ban on TikTok?
4. What does the big company that owns TikTok say about the ban?
5. Who in Nepal mostly uses TikTok?
6. Besides Nepal, which other two countries have stopped TikTok sometimes?
7. What do some people think the government should do instead of stopping TikTok?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Nepal has stopped (1)______ from using a big app called (2)______. They say the app is bad for people getting along with each other. TikTok is used by (3)______ of people around the world, but some other countries have stopped it too. A person who works for Nepal’s government said TikTok can (4)______ mean (5)______ and they won’t let it work in Nepal anymore.

Some people are worried because they think everyone should be able to say what they (6)______. A man who helps lead a big group in Nepal doesn’t like the ban. He thinks the government should just make sure TikTok is safe, not (7)______ it. TikTok’s big (8)______ says it’s not doing anything wrong, but some people are still not sure.

In Nepal, there have been (9)______ problems because of TikTok. A lot of young people there use TikTok more than (10)______ apps. A report says that most people who use the internet and are young like TikTok. In other countries, like (11)______ and (12)______, they have also stopped TikTok sometimes.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is an app you like to use on your phone or computer?
2. How would you feel if your favorite app was stopped by your country?
3. Do you like making videos to share with friends? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about people saying mean things on the internet?
5. Have you ever used TikTok? If yes, what do you like about it?
6. Do you think it’s okay for a government to stop an app? Why or why not?
7. What is something you can do to be safe when you use apps?
8. How do you think people should solve problems with apps?
9. Do you think it’s important for everyone to say what they want online? Why or why not?
10. What is a good way to have fun without using apps or the internet?
11. Have you heard of any apps being stopped in your country? What happened?
12. Do you think it’s better to fix a problem with an app or to stop using it completely? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Nepal
2. TikTok
3. app
4. ban
5. government
6. safe
7. young
8. internet

Meanings:
(a) A popular social media platform
(b) A place where you can find information and play games
(c) Not old, but not a baby either
(d) A rule that says you can’t do something
(e) Not dangerous or harmful
(f) A country in Asia
(g) The people who make rules for a country
(h) A program you can use on your phone
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why has Nepal stopped people from using TikTok?
(a) They want to promote other apps.
(b) They want to protect people’s privacy.
(c) They think it is too expensive.
(d) They think it can spread mean things.

2. How do some people feel about the ban on TikTok in Nepal?
(a) They think TikTok is a waste of time.
(b) They think everyone should be able to say what they want.
(c) They think the government should ban more apps.
(d) They think TikTok is only for older people.

3. What does the man who helps lead a big group in Nepal think about the ban on TikTok?
(a) The government should ban all social media apps.
(b) The government should just make sure TikTok is safe, not stop it.
(c) The government should create their own app to replace TikTok.
(d) The government should ban all internet use.

4. What does TikTok’s big company say about the ban in Nepal?
(a) It’s not doing anything wrong.
(b) It will stop operating in Nepal.
(c) It will create a safer version of TikTok.
(d) It supports the government’s decision.

5. Why are some people worried about the ban on TikTok?
(a) They think TikTok is too expensive.
(b) They think TikTok is not popular enough.
(c) They think TikTok is a waste of time.
(d) They think it is unfair to limit people’s freedom of speech.

6. Which country has also stopped TikTok sometimes?
(a) Russia
(b) Brazil
(c) Pakistan
(d) Australia

7. Who uses TikTok the most in Nepal?
(a) Older people who use the internet.
(b) People who don’t use the internet.
(c) Young people who use the internet.
(d) People who use other social media apps.

8. What is the main reason Nepal has stopped people from using TikTok?
(a) They think it can spread mean things.
(b) They think it is too expensive.
(c) They think it is not popular enough.
(d) They think it is a waste of time.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. TikTok’s company claims they are not doing anything wrong, but some people are still unsure.
2. TikTok is used by only a few people around the world, but some other countries have also un-banned it.
3. In Nepal, there have been few problems caused by TikTok, especially among young people who use it more than other apps.
4. The government of Nepal believes TikTok can spread mean things, so they decided to allow it to continue working in their country.
5. Other countries like Pakistan and Indonesia have also banned TikTok at times.
6. A leader in Nepal disagrees with the ban and thinks the government should make sure TikTok is safe instead of stopping it completely.
7. Some people are worried because they think everyone should have the right to say what they want, even on TikTok.
8. Nepal has not banned the use of TikTok, a popular app, as they believe it promotes harmony between people.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What did Nepal do to the app called TikTok?
2. Why does Nepal’s government think TikTok is bad?
3. What do some people in Nepal think about not being able to use TikTok?
4. What does the company that owns TikTok say about the situation?
5. Have any other countries stopped people from using TikTok? Can you name one?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What app has Nepal stopped people from using?
Nepal has stopped people from using TikTok.

2. Why did Nepal stop people from using TikTok?
Nepal stopped TikTok because they think it makes people not get along and spreads mean things.

3. What do some people in Nepal think about the ban on TikTok?
Some people in Nepal don’t like the ban and think the government should just make TikTok safe.

4. What does the big company that owns TikTok say about the ban?
The big company that owns TikTok says it’s not doing anything wrong.

5. Who in Nepal mostly uses TikTok?
Mostly young people in Nepal use TikTok.

6. Besides Nepal, which other two countries have stopped TikTok sometimes?
Pakistan and Indonesia have also stopped TikTok sometimes.

7. What do some people think the government should do instead of stopping TikTok?
Some people think the government should make sure TikTok is safe instead of stopping it.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) TikTok
(3) lots
(4) spread
(5) things
(6) want
(7) stop
(8) company
(9) many
(10) other
(11) Pakistan
(12) Indonesia
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Nepal
Answer: (f) A country in Asia

2. TikTok
Answer: (a) A popular social media platform

3. app
Answer: (h) A program you can use on your phone

4. ban
Answer: (d) A rule that says you can’t do something

5. government
Answer: (g) The people who make rules for a country

6. safe
Answer: (e) Not dangerous or harmful

7. young
Answer: (c) Not old, but not a baby either

8. internet
Answer: (b) A place where you can find information and play games
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why has Nepal stopped people from using TikTok?
Answer: (d) They think it can spread mean things.

2. How do some people feel about the ban on TikTok in Nepal?
Answer: (b) They think everyone should be able to say what they want.

3. What does the man who helps lead a big group in Nepal think about the ban on TikTok?
Answer: (b) The government should just make sure TikTok is safe, not stop it.

4. What does TikTok’s big company say about the ban in Nepal?
Answer: (a) It’s not doing anything wrong.

5. Why are some people worried about the ban on TikTok?
Answer: (d) They think it is unfair to limit people’s freedom of speech.

6. Which country has also stopped TikTok sometimes?
Answer: (c) Pakistan

7. Who uses TikTok the most in Nepal?
Answer: (c) Young people who use the internet.

8. What is the main reason Nepal has stopped people from using TikTok?
Answer: (a) They think it can spread mean things.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. TikTok’s company claims they are not doing anything wrong, but some people are still unsure. (Answer: True)
2. TikTok is used by only a few people around the world, but some other countries have also un-banned it. (Answer: False)
3. In Nepal, there have been few problems caused by TikTok, especially among young people who use it more than other apps. (Answer: False)
4. The government of Nepal believes TikTok can spread mean things, so they decided to allow it to continue working in their country. (Answer: False)
5. Other countries like Pakistan and Indonesia have also banned TikTok at times. (Answer: True)
6. A leader in Nepal disagrees with the ban and thinks the government should make sure TikTok is safe instead of stopping it completely. (Answer: True)
7. Some people are worried because they think everyone should have the right to say what they want, even on TikTok. (Answer: True)
8. Nepal has not banned the use of TikTok, a popular app, as they believe it promotes harmony between people. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧