The government in Nepal said on Monday it would ban the popular social media app TikTok, saying the decision was being taken to curb hateful content that affects “social harmony”.

TikTok has more than a billion users globally, so the ban from a Himalayan country with a population of about 30 million is unlikely to significantly affect the app, but it is another bad sign for the Chinese company in efforts by various governments to limit its use.

TikTok was among dozens of Chinese apps banned by India in 2020, following a standoff between the two countries in the Himalayas that remains unresolved. The app has also come under increased scrutiny and restrictions in the United States, Europe and Canada due to concerns that user data is being shared with the Chinese government.

Officials cited the prevalence of content they said was inciting religious hatred, violence and sexual abuse and has led to clashes, forcing curfews and the deployment of police, The Washington Post reports.

A particularly hot issue has been virtual attacks on TikTok among Hindus, Muslims and some indigenous communities over cow slaughter, which is seen as sacred among a large number of Hindus.

“Our social harmony, family structure and family relationships are being disturbed by social media, by TikTok. The decision to ban TikTok will take effect immediately,” said Rekha Sharma, Nepal’s minister for communications and information technology, after the cabinet approved the ban.

Nepalese officials said they resorted to the ban after TikTok refused to address concerns about indecent content, even after the government was contacted on repeated occasions.

TikTok’s popularity has grown particularly in Nepal since the pandemic, reaching around 2.2 million active users.