Nepal has recently decided to ban the app TikTok because they’re worried it could cause problems with how people get along. This happened after the country made a new rule saying that social media companies have to have offices in Nepal. TikTok is already banned in a few other countries, like India. Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, said that TikTok spreads bad stuff and that the ban will start right away. But some people, like Gagan Thapa, who is a leader in the Nepali Congress, think the government should just regulate TikTok instead of banning it.
People all over the world have been worried about TikTok because they think the Chinese government might be able to see people’s information. The company that owns TikTok, called ByteDance, says that’s not true. TikTok hasn’t said anything about the ban in Nepal. Even though TikTok doesn’t have as many users as Facebook and Instagram, it’s really popular with young people. In Nepal, there have been more than 1,600 cases of cybercrime related to TikTok in the past four years. A report from BBC Media Action says that TikTok is the third most popular platform in Nepal. While YouTube and Facebook are used by people of all ages, TikTok is mostly used by young people between 16 and 24. Pakistan has banned TikTok a few times, and Indonesia recently shut down its TikTok online shopping service.
So, Nepal has joined the list of countries that have banned TikTok because they’re worried about how it affects people getting along. The government started the ban right away because they think TikTok has bad stuff on it. Some people think the government should just regulate TikTok instead of banning it. People all over the world are worried that TikTok might share people’s information with the Chinese government, but TikTok says that’s not true. Even though TikTok doesn’t have as many users as Facebook and Instagram, it’s really popular with young people. TikTok has been banned in other countries too, like India, the United States, and Indonesia.
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: Students work in pairs to summarize the article with the goal of presenting the most important points in under one minute. Encourage them to focus on the main reasons for the ban, the government’s perspective, and the various responses to the issue.
– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a line in the classroom representing a spectrum of opinions from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” Read statements about the TikTok ban, such as “Social media platforms should be regulated by governments” or “Banning social media apps is an effective way to reduce cybercrime.” Have students stand on the spot of the spectrum that represents their opinion and discuss their reasoning with the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article (e.g., ban, regulate, cybercrime, platform, social media) on slips of paper. Students take turns drawing the word they pick for their team to guess. The team has a minute to guess the word, which encourages quick thinking and review of the article’s content.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students discuss and write down their predictions about the future of social media regulations and TikTok’s status in Nepal and other countries. They can consider questions like: Will other countries follow suit? Will TikTok change its policies? Will users find new platforms? Then they share their predictions with the class.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “Should governments have the power to ban social media apps?” or “What are the potential consequences of banning a popular app like TikTok?” Students first think about the question individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally, share their conclusions with the class. This encourages critical thinking and speaking practice.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the main reason Nepal decided to ban TikTok?
2. What new rule did Nepal implement regarding social media companies before banning TikTok?
3. What has Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology said about TikTok?
4. What is Gagan Thapa’s opinion on how the government should deal with TikTok?
5. Why are people around the world concerned about TikTok?
6. How does TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, respond to the concerns about user information?
7. What does the BBC Media Action report say about TikTok’s popularity in Nepal?
8. Can you name other countries that have banned TikTok or taken actions against it?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Nepal has recently decided to ban the app TikTok because they’re worried it could cause problems with how people get along. This happened after the country made a new rule (1)______ that social media companies have to have offices in Nepal. TikTok is already banned in a few other countries, like India. Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information (2)______, Rekha Sharma, said that TikTok spreads bad stuff and that the ban will (3)______ right away. But some people, like Gagan (4)______, who is a leader in the Nepali Congress, think the government should just regulate TikTok instead of banning it.
(5)______ all over the world have been worried about TikTok because they think the Chinese government might be able to see people’s information. The (6)______ that owns TikTok, called (7)______, says that’s not true. TikTok hasn’t said anything about the ban in (8)______. Even though TikTok doesn’t have as many users as Facebook and Instagram, it’s really popular with young people. In Nepal, there have been more than 1,600 cases of cybercrime (9)______ to TikTok in the past four years. A (10)______ from BBC Media Action says that TikTok is the third most popular platform in Nepal. While (11)______ and Facebook are used by people of all ages, TikTok is mostly used by (12)______ people between 16 and 24. Pakistan has banned TikTok a few times, and Indonesia recently shut down its TikTok online shopping service.
So, Nepal has joined the list of countries that have banned TikTok because they’re worried about how it affects people getting along. The government started the ban right away because they think (13)______ has bad stuff on it. Some people think the (14)______ should just regulate TikTok instead of banning it. People all over the world are worried that TikTok might share people’s information with the Chinese government, but TikTok says that’s not true. Even though TikTok doesn’t have as many users as Facebook and Instagram, it’s really popular with young people. TikTok has been banned in (15)______ countries too, like India, the (16)______ States, and Indonesia.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your favorite social media app and why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if the government decided to ban your favorite app?
3. Do you think banning apps like TikTok is a good way to protect people’s privacy? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever heard about an app being banned in your country? What happened?
5. What do you think “regulate” means when talking about social media apps?
6. Do you believe that social media companies should have offices in every country they operate in? Why?
7. How do you feel about the idea that a government can see your information on social media?
8. What kind of “bad stuff” do you think could be spread on TikTok or similar apps?
9. Do you think your own government should ban or regulate TikTok? Why or why not?
10. Why do you think TikTok is more popular with young people than with older people?
11. Have you or anyone you know ever faced problems because of something on TikTok?
12. What do you think could be a better solution than banning an app to solve problems it may cause?
13. Do you think it’s fair for a government to ban an app because of cybercrimes? Why or why not?
14. How important do you think it is for social media platforms to protect user information from other countries’ governments?
15. Can you think of any positive effects that banning an app like TikTok might have on young people?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. TikTok
2. ban
3. government
4. regulate
5. information
6. popular
7. cybercrime
8. platform
Meanings:
(a) A social media app that is popular with young people
(b) Liked or enjoyed by many people
(c) To control or manage something according to rules
(d) Facts or details about someone or something
(e) The group of people who make decisions for a country
(f) A website or app where people can share content
(g) To officially forbid something
(h) Criminal activities that happen online
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why did Nepal decide to ban TikTok?
(a) They want to protect people’s information from the Chinese government.
(b) They think TikTok is not popular with young people.
(c) They want to regulate TikTok instead of banning it.
(d) They are worried it could cause problems with how people get along.
2. What new rule did Nepal make regarding social media companies?
(a) They have to share people’s information with the government.
(b) They have to ban TikTok.
(c) They have to have offices in Nepal.
(d) They have to regulate TikTok.
3. Who is the Minister for Communications and Information Technology in Nepal?
(a) Gagan Thapa
(b) Rekha Sharma
(c) ByteDance
(d) TikTok
4. Why do some people think the government should regulate TikTok instead of banning it?
(a) They want to protect people’s information from the Chinese government.
(b) They believe TikTok spreads bad stuff.
(c) They think TikTok is not popular with young people.
(d) They want to ban TikTok in other countries.
5. What are people worried about regarding TikTok and the Chinese government?
(a) The Chinese government might be able to see people’s information.
(b) TikTok might spread bad stuff.
(c) TikTok is not popular with young people.
(d) The Chinese government might ban TikTok.
6. What does ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, say about people’s information?
(a) They say the Chinese government cannot see it.
(b) They say TikTok is not popular with young people.
(c) They say TikTok spreads bad stuff.
(d) They say people’s information is not important.
7. How popular is TikTok compared to Facebook and Instagram?
(a) TikTok is more popular than Facebook and Instagram.
(b) TikTok is equally popular as Facebook and Instagram.
(c) TikTok doesn’t have as many users as Facebook and Instagram.
(d) TikTok is only popular with young people.
8. Which countries have also banned TikTok?
(a) Russia, Spain, and Germany.
(b) China, Japan, and France.
(c) Pakistan, Nepal, and India.
(d) India, the United States, and Indonesia.
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Nepal has recently decided to ban the app TikTok because they’re worried it could cause problems with how people get along.
2. The ban on TikTok in Nepal was implemented despite the country not making a new rule requiring social media companies to have offices in Nepal.
3. Some people, like Gagan Thapa, a leader in the Nepali Congress, believe that the government should regulate TikTok instead of banning it.
4. People worldwide have no concerns about TikTok due to the impossibility of the Chinese government accessing users’ information.
5. TikTok is already banned in a few other countries, like India.
6. TikTok is popular among young people, even though it has fewer users than Facebook and Instagram.
7. Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, believes that TikTok spreads positive content, leading to the ban being enforced immediately.
8. The company that owns TikTok, ByteDance, confirms the claims that the Chinese government can see users’ information.
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. Why did Nepal decide to ban the TikTok app?
2. What did Rekha Sharma, Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, say about TikTok?
3. What are some people, like Gagan Thapa, suggesting as an alternative to banning TikTok?
4. How has TikTok responded to the concerns about user information possibly being seen by the Chinese government?
5. Can you list some other countries that have also banned TikTok, according to the article?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the main reason Nepal decided to ban TikTok?
Nepal decided to ban TikTok because they’re worried about the negative impact it could have on social harmony.
2. What new rule did Nepal implement regarding social media companies before banning TikTok?
Nepal made a rule that social media companies must have local offices in Nepal.
3. What has Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology said about TikTok?
Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, said that TikTok spreads harmful content and that the ban would start immediately.
4. What is Gagan Thapa’s opinion on how the government should deal with TikTok?
Gagan Thapa, a leader in the Nepali Congress, believes the government should regulate TikTok instead of banning it.
5. Why are people around the world concerned about TikTok?
People are concerned that TikTok might let the Chinese government access users’ personal information.
6. How does TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, respond to the concerns about user information?
ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, denies the claim that they share user information with the Chinese government.
7. What does the BBC Media Action report say about TikTok’s popularity in Nepal?
The BBC Media Action report states that TikTok is the third most popular platform in Nepal, especially among young people aged 16 to 24.
8. Can you name other countries that have banned TikTok or taken actions against it?
Other countries that have banned TikTok or taken actions against it include India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The United States has also considered actions against TikTok.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) saying
(2) Technology
(3) start
(4) Thapa
(5) People
(6) company
(7) ByteDance
(8) Nepal
(9) related
(10) report
(11) YouTube
(12) young
(13) TikTok
(14) government
(15) other
(16) United
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. TikTok
Answer: (a) A social media app that is popular with young people
2. ban
Answer: (g) To officially forbid something
3. government
Answer: (e) The group of people who make decisions for a country
4. regulate
Answer: (c) To control or manage something according to rules
5. information
Answer: (d) Facts or details about someone or something
6. popular
Answer: (b) Liked or enjoyed by many people
7. cybercrime
Answer: (h) Criminal activities that happen online
8. platform
Answer: (f) A website or app where people can share content
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why did Nepal decide to ban TikTok?
Answer: (d) They are worried it could cause problems with how people get along.
2. What new rule did Nepal make regarding social media companies?
Answer: (c) They have to have offices in Nepal.
3. Who is the Minister for Communications and Information Technology in Nepal?
Answer: (b) Rekha Sharma
4. Why do some people think the government should regulate TikTok instead of banning it?
Answer: (b) They believe TikTok spreads bad stuff.
5. What are people worried about regarding TikTok and the Chinese government?
Answer: (a) The Chinese government might be able to see people’s information.
6. What does ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, say about people’s information?
Answer: (a) They say the Chinese government cannot see it.
7. How popular is TikTok compared to Facebook and Instagram?
Answer: (c) TikTok doesn’t have as many users as Facebook and Instagram.
8. Which countries have also banned TikTok?
Answer: (d) India, the United States, and Indonesia.
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Nepal has recently decided to ban the app TikTok because they’re worried it could cause problems with how people get along. (Answer: True)
2. The ban on TikTok in Nepal was implemented despite the country not making a new rule requiring social media companies to have offices in Nepal. (Answer: False)
3. Some people, like Gagan Thapa, a leader in the Nepali Congress, believe that the government should regulate TikTok instead of banning it. (Answer: True)
4. People worldwide have no concerns about TikTok due to the impossibility of the Chinese government accessing users’ information. (Answer: False)
5. TikTok is already banned in a few other countries, like India. (Answer: True)
6. TikTok is popular among young people, even though it has fewer users than Facebook and Instagram. (Answer: True)
7. Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, believes that TikTok spreads positive content, leading to the ban being enforced immediately. (Answer: False)
8. The company that owns TikTok, ByteDance, confirms the claims that the Chinese government can see users’ information. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
