Deadly Gen Z Protests Rock Nepal After Social Media Ban
Youth-led anti-government protests in Kathmandu turned deadly after authorities moved to block access to 26 major social media platforms. What started as a fight for digital freedom escalated into a broader confrontation over corruption and poor governance.
On September 4, 2025, the Nepali government restricted access to 26 major social platforms — including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram and X — saying the companies failed to comply with new registration rules. The move immediately enraged young Nepalis who depend on these services for education, livelihoods and free expression.
Tens of thousands of protesters — many identifying as Gen Z — converged on Maitighar Mandala and the area around the Federal Parliament on September 8. Demonstrators demanded an end to the blanket censorship and called for accountability on long-standing grievances: corruption, nepotism and systemic governance failures.
Clashes intensified when some demonstrators attempted to push past security perimeters. Authorities used tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and, according to multiple reports, live ammunition. The confrontation left an estimated 14–19 people dead and more than 100 injured, while a curfew was imposed in key parts of Kathmandu.
The crackdown has prompted political fallout: high-profile resignations were reported, and civil liberties groups have urged an independent investigation into the excessive use of force. International human rights organizations have condemned the violence and called for accountability.
While the social media ban was the immediate catalyst, protesters say it exposed deeper problems — an entrenched political class disconnected from a generation that measures opportunity and dignity online. The protests have also shone a spotlight on elite privilege, with viral campaigns criticizing the lavish lifestyles of political families.
As Nepal faces mounting domestic and international pressure, the country's trajectory remains uncertain. For many young Nepalis the question is no longer only about access to apps — it's about whether the country's institutions will respond to calls for real reform.
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