Pre-reading questions:
- Which smartphone applications do people in your country typically use?
- How concerned are you about cybersecurity and privacy issues related to using social media platforms or applications?
Vocabulary:
- significant /sig-NIF-i-kuhnt/
- harmony /HAHR-muh-nee/
- deny /dih-NAHY/
- disturb /dih-STURB/
- freedom /FREE-duhm/
[adjective] – important or noticeable
The discovery of antibiotics was a significant advancement in the field of medicine.
[noun] – a situation in which people are peaceful and agree with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together
The concert was a beautiful display of musical harmony, as each instrument blended seamlessly to create an enchanting melody.
[verb] – to say that something is not true
He chose to deny the allegations, stating firmly that he was innocent despite the accusations against him.
[verb] – to interrupt what someone is doing
The heated argument between the siblings threatened to disturb the peaceful atmosphere at the family reunion, causing tension among relatives.
[noun] – the condition or right of being able or allowed to do, say, think, etc. whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited
The march aimed to celebrate freedom, emphasizing the rights of individuals to express themselves without fear of oppression or censorship.
Article reading:
Rekha Sharma, Nepal’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology, talked about how TikTok’s content was causing trouble, which led the government to stop its use for a while. This decision matches the concerns worldwide about the application sharing data with the Chinese government, even though ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, denies these claims. Officials in Nepal are worried about more cybercrimes happening because of TikTok, so they want stricter rules and more oversight for how the app works. This action in Nepal is part of a global pattern where countries such as the United States and India have also limited TikTok. They’re worried about how it might affect their country’s independence, especially if it’s used on government phones. Even though each country does different things, they all share the same concern: that TikTok might disturb how people get along, especially young users, and bring risks to online safety. This has made many people talk about needing rules that balance freedom of speech with keeping society safe.
Comprehension questions
- What significant decision did Nepal recently make regarding the use of TikTok, and why was this decision made?
- Who expressed concerns about TikTok’s impact in Nepal, leading to the temporary halt in its use, and what worries were mentioned?
- What global concerns align with Nepal’s worries about TikTok regarding data sharing, despite denials from ByteDance?
- Why are Nepalese officials advocating for stricter rules and increased oversight concerning TikTok?
- How does Nepal’s action regarding TikTok align with a pattern observed in other countries, such as the United States and India?
Discussion questions
- Have you or someone you know faced problems with safety or bad content on social media? If yes, how did that affect how safe you feel online? If not, have you talked about or thought about the dangers of using social media?
- Have you seen younger people change how they use social media after TikTok was banned in Nepal? If yes, what differences have you noticed? If not, do you think rules like this change how people use social media or see what’s online?
- Do you think stopping apps like TikTok is a good way to make the internet safer and avoid problems with cybersecurity?
- Why do you think many countries, including Nepal, are stopping TikTok? Is it just about safety online or about bigger worries about social media’s effects on society and values?
- When countries make rules about apps like TikTok, what things should leaders think about? How can they balance protecting their country, letting people be free online, and keeping users safe in today’s digital world?