Police Violence in Nepal: The Impact on Social Media and Free Speech

Facebook, now operating under the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc., is a pioneering American social media and technology organization that has fundamentally reshaped global communication and digital marketing. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and four Harvard University classmates, Facebook began as a campus networking site before rapidly expanding to become the world’s largest social network. Its mission—to connect people and foster human interaction—has driven its evolution from a simple online directory into a multifaceted digital ecosystem. Facebook’s core platform enables users to create profiles, share content, join groups, and interact with friends and communities worldwide. Over the years, it has introduced groundbreaking features such as News Feed, Messenger, Marketplace, and Reels, continually adapting to user behavior and technological trends. The organization has also expanded its reach through acquisitions, including Instagram and WhatsApp, making Meta one of the most influential tech conglomerates globally. Facebook’s achievements are monumental: it was the first social network to surpass one billion users and now boasts over 3.07 billion monthly active users as of 2025. It ranks as the third-most-visited website worldwide and remains the second-largest digital ad platform, generating over $116 billion in ad revenue annually. Its robust advertising tools and e-commerce integrations, such as Facebook Shops and Marketplace, have made it indispensable for businesses seeking global reach and measurable ROI. Despite facing criticism over privacy, misinformation, and content moderation, Facebook continues to innovate, introducing AI-powered features, new monetization options for creators, and advanced ad targeting. Its enduring popularity, especially among millennials and Gen Z, and its ongoing expansion into virtual reality and the metaverse, underscore its pivotal role in shaping the future of digital connection and commerce.

Twitter, now rebranded as X, is a global communications company based in San Francisco that operates a social media and microblogging platform where users post short messages called tweets, limited to 280 characters[1][3]. Founded in 2006, Twitter quickly became a vital platform for real-time public conversation, news dissemination, and social commentary, serving a broad user base including businesses, journalists, politicians, and celebrities[2][3]. Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion, privatizing the company and merging it into X Corp., marking a strategic rebranding aimed at transforming Twitter into an AI-powered “super app” that integrates social media, content, AI tools, and financial transactions in one platform[1][3]. This transition ended Twitter’s existence as a standalone company and led to substantial operational changes, including reduced content moderation, workforce reductions, and new monetization models like subscription services and creator monetization[1][3]. As of 2025, X (Twitter) has around 561 million monthly active users globally, with approximately 132 million daily active users, though user engagement has declined since Musk’s takeover[4][5][6]. The platform remains influential, particularly for real-time updates, professional networking, and viral content sharing, distinguishing itself from competitors like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok through its focus on public discourse and newsworthiness[2]. However, the shift in content policies and the introduction of paid verification have driven advertisers away, causing a significant drop in advertising revenue despite overall growth in subscription income[1][6]. Twitter’s core value lies in its open conversation model, which fosters debate and information exchange at scale. Its evolution into X represents an ambitious vision to become a multifunctional digital hub, balancing its legacy as a microblogging pioneer with cutting-edge AI-driven innovations under Musk’s leadership[1][3].

YouTube is a leading American online video-sharing platform founded on February 14, 2005, by Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim, and Steve Chen, former PayPal employees. Headquartered in San Bruno, California, it is owned by Alphabet (Google) since its acquisition in November 2006 for $1.65 billion. Today, YouTube ranks as the second-most-visited website globally, behind Google, with over 2.7 billion monthly active users as of January 2024[1]. The platform allows users to upload, share, and view videos across a vast range of categories including entertainment, education, news, and more. It has evolved from hosting simple user-generated videos to becoming a cultural powerhouse where creators produce professional-grade content, including talk shows, feature films, and music videos[2]. In the U.S., TV has surpassed mobile devices as the primary screen for YouTube viewing, reflecting its integration into mainstream entertainment[2]. YouTube's business model initially relied on advertising revenue but has expanded to include paid content, YouTube Premium subscriptions that offer ad-free viewing, and exclusive content. In 2023, YouTube generated $31.7 billion in advertising revenue, with combined ad and subscription revenue exceeding $50 billion from late 2023 to 2024[1]. The platform has paid creators over $100 billion worldwide in the past four years, underscoring its role as a major economic engine for content creators and media companies[3]. Technological innovation remains central to YouTube’s growth. Recent advances include AI-powered tools for creators, such as automatic language dubbing introduced in December 2024, and integration of Google DeepMind’s AI features to simplify video editing and enhance Shorts content creation[1][3]. YouTube also launched Playables—free-to-play games accessible directly on the platform—in mid-2024, diversifying user engagement[1]. Marking its 20th anniversary in 2025, YouTube