Making Content Creators Responsible
Summary
Calls are growing to make content creators more responsible as Nepal’s digital platforms spread misinformation, harassment and unverified viral content. The piece urges clearer laws and stronger guidance for social media monitoring while protecting press freedom and expression.
Key Points
- Complaints about misinformation, disinformation and cyber harassment are increasingly reaching the Press Council of Nepal and the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police, but existing laws are not adequate to address all cases.
- A UNESCO report on Nepal’s digital content creator landscape says the sector is youth-driven, heavily reliant on TikTok and Instagram, and often lacks awareness of fact-checking, legal recourse and sponsorship disclosure.
- The article argues that content creators should be trained to follow ethical standards and that upcoming Press Council and Mass Media bills should clarify how social media can be monitored without undermining press freedom.
- It cites the recent Bhotekoshi flood as an example of how mainstream media and influencers handled information differently, with some creators sharing unrelated or unverified viral content.
