Social media platforms have transformed global communication and interaction, with TikTok emerging as a critical tool for education, connection, and social impact, including in contexts where infrastructural resources are limited. Amid growing political discussions about banning platforms like TikTok, such actions can create significant ripple effects, particularly impacting marginalized communities. We present a study on Nepal, where a TikTok ban was recently imposed and lifted. As a low-resource country in transition where digital communication is rapidly evolving, TikTok enables a space for community engagement and cultural expression. In this context, we conducted an online survey (N=108) to explore user values, experiences, and strategies for navigating online spaces post-ban. By examining these transitions, we aim to improve our understanding of how digital technologies, policy responses, and cultural dynamics interact globally and their implications for governance and societal norms. Our results indicate that users express skepticism toward platform bans but often passively accept them without active opposition. Findings suggest the importance of institutionalizing collective governance models that encourage public deliberation, nuanced control, and socially resonant policy decisions.

翻译：社交媒体平台已深刻改变全球沟通与互动模式，TikTok更成为教育、社会联结及社会影响的重要工具，在基础设施资源有限的地区尤为显著。随着封禁TikTok等平台的政治讨论日益增多，此类禁令可能产生显著的连锁效应，尤其对边缘化社群造成冲击。本研究以近期实施并解除TikTok禁令的尼泊尔为案例——作为处于转型期的低资源国家，其数字通信正快速发展，而TikTok为社群参与和文化表达提供了重要空间。基于此背景，我们开展了一项在线调查（N=108），探究禁令解除后用户的价值取向、使用体验及网络空间应对策略。通过审视这些转变，我们旨在深化理解数字技术、政策响应与文化动态在全球范围内的相互作用，及其对治理模式与社会规范的影响。研究结果显示，用户对平台禁令普遍持怀疑态度，但往往被动接受而未积极抵制。研究结果表明，建立鼓励公众审议、精细化管控及社会共鸣政策决策的集体治理模式制度化具有重要意义。