Kathmandu, Sept. 28 -- For Koteshwar resident Sushmita Katuwal, shopping no longer necessarily means walking through crowded markets. From clothes and earrings to handbags, she increasingly browses TikTok and Facebook, checks prices and places orders from her phone.

"Now you can find out on TikTok and Facebook what is available in the market and what's coming in," Katuwal said. "Ordering is easy and quick. I feel like I'm wasting the whole day when I have to walk around the market."

She says social media has also made it easier to keep track of new products and compare what is on offer. As long as she checks the seller's page carefully before ordering, she believes the chances of being cheated are lower.

The market has seen a massive c...