Triggered by a social media ban, Nepal’s youth-led protests have evolved into a mass revolt against corruption, inequality, and authoritarianism.
BY PC Bureau
Sept. 8 – Nepal is in turmoil after youth-led protests against corruption and the government’s social media ban spiraled into deadly violence this week. At least 20 demonstrators were killed and more than 250 injured when security forces opened fire on crowds near Parliament and across major cities, turning Kathmandu into a flashpoint of unrest.
The Oli government’s September 4 decision to ban 26 social media platforms — including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube — sparked immediate outrage. Officials claimed the ban was necessary because global platforms had failed to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, but critics denounced it as a blatant act of censorship designed to crush dissent and weaken citizen activism.
From Online Outrage to Streets of Kathmandu
The movement, dubbed the “Gen Z Revolution”, began with student groups organizing online campaigns. Within days, anger over the ban merged with long-standing frustrations over corruption, unemployment, inflation, and misgovernance under Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Thousands of young protesters, many still in their school or college uniforms, poured onto the streets of Kathmandu.
Carrying national flags and slogans like “Unban Social Media” and “Shut Down Corruption, Not Our Voices”, demonstrators defied curfew orders and stormed restricted zones around Parliament. Police barricades were breached, and clashes turned violent. Security forces resorted to tear gas, batons, and ultimately live ammunition at multiple protest sites.
The violence soon spread beyond Kathmandu to Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, and other cities, leading authorities to impose curfews nationwide and even seal the Bhairahawa border crossing with India.
9 youth died in the Gen_Z protest in Nepal against socialist government ban on 26 social media apps including Facebook, youtube and @X .
Youths demand complete change of leadership in the country most deaths are due to police firing. #Nepal #genznepal #genzie pic.twitter.com/XEuh6yk8ts
— Tulsi For President (@TulsiPotus) September 8, 2025
Political Fallout
The political consequences were immediate. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak announced his resignation late Monday, saying he could not preside over a government that had “allowed bloodshed of its own youth.” His resignation has further shaken the fragile Oli administration, which now faces mounting pressure to roll back the ban.
In response to the crisis, the Nepal Army has been deployed across Kathmandu Valley, a move unseen since the 2006 People’s Movement that toppled the monarchy. A high-level meeting of the National Security Council is underway at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, with top ministers, the Army Chief, and key security officials present.
Wider Civil Rights Movement
Although branded a “Gen Z protest,” the uprising has rapidly broadened. “This is not just about social media anymore,” said Suhana, an eyewitness in Kathmandu. “Millennials, Gen X, even older generations have joined. This is about corruption, unemployment, and decades of failed governance.”
The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal condemned the government’s response, accusing security forces of “excessive and disproportionate force”. Rights groups fear the crackdown could radicalize the movement into a larger civil rights uprising similar to the pro-democracy protests of 2006.
Roots of Discontent
Nepal’s youth have long been at the forefront of political change. The 2006 movement that ended the monarchy was youth-driven, as was the push for a federal democratic republic in 2008. Yet, despite political transformation, governance has remained plagued by corruption scandals, unstable coalitions, and economic stagnation.
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Gen Z, making up more than 40% of Nepal’s population, faces some of the world’s highest rates of youth unemployment. Frustration has grown over poor job prospects, mass migration abroad, and limited freedoms at home. For many, the social media ban was the breaking point — stripping away not just entertainment platforms but vital spaces for activism, networking, and free expression.
International Implications
Nepal’s instability is being closely watched by India, China, and Western allies. The curfew near the Indian border highlights the risk of the crisis spilling over. Regional analysts warn that prolonged unrest could destabilize the Himalayan nation’s fragile democracy and affect trade and security in South Asia.
With 20 dead and anger spreading, the Oli government faces a stark choice: rescind the social media ban and open dialogue with protesters, or double down with force at the risk of triggering a prolonged civil uprising. Either way, Nepal’s youth have sent a clear message: their voices will not be silenced.
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