Defying global pressure, Oli stands firm on Nepal’s social media ban, calling it a fight for sovereignty amid violent youth-led demonstrations.
By PC Bureau
September 8, 2025: In a tense standoff gripping the Himalayan nation, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has refused to lift a controversial ban on 26 major social media platforms, even as violent protests led by Gen Z youth have left at least 20 dead and over 250 injured. What began as a regulatory crackdown on unregistered digital services has spiraled into what activists call the “Gen Z Revolution”—a mass movement against government authoritarianism, corruption, and censorship.
With curfews blanketing Kathmandu and other cities, Oli’s government faces growing pressure from opposition parties, human rights groups, and a furious public. Yet, the prime minister remains defiant, insisting the ban protects “national sovereignty” against foreign tech giants.
The Spark: Regulation or Repression?
The crisis began on September 4, 2025, when Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) ordered the blocking of 26 global platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, and Discord. The government claimed these platforms failed to comply with a new regulatory framework mandating registration, licensing, and the appointment of local representatives to address hate speech, fake news, and cybercrime.
Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Oli has refused to lift the ban on social media. Said, will not bow down before “Gen Z troublemakers.”
The PM has called an emergency meeting of the ruling coalition.
All top leaders of the coalition have been summoned to the PM’s residence.…— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) September 8, 2025
MoCIT spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur said companies were given a seven-day deadline starting August 28, following a Supreme Court directive. “We requested them five times. What do we do when they don’t listen?” Thakur told reporters.
Telecom providers Nepal Telecom and Ncell enforced the ban, cutting off millions of users. Only TikTok, Viber, and local app Hamro Patro have registered or expressed interest. X has made inquiries from its Singapore office, but Meta and Alphabet have not responded.
READ: Nepal Home Minister Quits After 20 Killed in Gen Z Uprising, Army Deployed
Critics say the move is censorship in disguise. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the ban as “a dangerous precedent,” undermining press freedom and public access to information. Nepal has a history of such restrictions: TikTok was banned in 2023 before reinstatement, and Telegram was blocked in 2024 over fraud concerns.
The timing has amplified the backlash. With internet penetration at 90% and 80% of traffic flowing through social media, the ban disrupted education, businesses, tourism, and vital communication for families of Nepali migrant workers abroad. The Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) warned of job losses for content creators and entrepreneurs. “This risks Nepal falling behind the digital world,” said CAN President Sunaina Ghimire.
From Online Outrage to Street Clashes
Frustration boiled over on September 8, when tens of thousands of students and young professionals poured into the streets of Kathmandu, Pokhara, Birgunj, Butwal, Itahari, and Damak. Many carried books, waved the national flag, and chanted: “Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption, not communication.”
READ: 20 Killed as Nepal Gen Z Revolts Against Social Media Ban
The peaceful marches soon turned violent. Protesters breached police barricades in New Baneshwor, surrounded Parliament, and torched barriers. Security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and live fire. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as ambulances rushed the injured to Trauma Center and Kathmandu Medical College.
20 Killed as Nepal Gen Z Revolts Against Social Media Ban
The death toll climbed to 20, with hundreds more injured—including journalists and police officers. Nepal’s Human Rights Commission condemned the “excessive force” by authorities, saying air fire and rubber bullets escalated the violence.
Moment Gen Z protesters set govt building on FIRE in Nepal
Climbing gates and breaking in as security forces battle to stop them
Unrest erupted after Nepal banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, & YouTube https://t.co/25sdx6gpel pic.twitter.com/h3Db8SHdnx
— RT (@RT_com) September 8, 2025
Curfews were declared in Kathmandu and six other cities. The army deployed to secure Parliament and Oli’s Baluwatar residence. Even Oli’s hometown erupted in protests. Despite internet shutdowns, organizers used TikTok and Reddit to coordinate movements—showing the resilience of Nepal’s digital-savvy youth.
Deeper Grievances Fuel the Fire
Though the ban triggered the protests, demonstrators say corruption and authoritarianism are the real causes. “This is not only about social media,” said Yujan Rajbhandari, a 24-year-old student. “We are protesting corruption that has been institutionalized.”
Another protester, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, added: “We want change. This has to end with our generation.” A viral “Nepo Kid” campaign accusing politicians’ children of enjoying corrupt privileges has intensified the anger.
Oli’s coalition government—led by his UML party with the Nepali Congress—faces scandal after scandal. In July, Federal Affairs Minister Rajkumar Gupta resigned after a bribe audio leak. The anti-graft agency charged ex-PM Madhav Kumar Nepal and 92 others in a massive land scam. Eighteen Nepal Telecom officials face embezzlement charges.
Foreign policy has also fueled discontent. Oli’s growing ties with Beijing, amid opaque projects, have earned him accusations of being “China’s agent.” India has tightened border security, while the U.S. and EU criticized curbs on press freedom.
Oli’s Defiance and Cabinet Fallout
On September 7, Oli declared at a party convention: “The independence of the nation is greater than the loss of jobs of a handful of individuals. Defying the law and disrespecting sovereignty cannot be tolerated.”
At a high-level security council meeting, attended by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, Oli doubled down. Cabinet allies urged compromise, but Oli refused.
The political fallout was immediate. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, citing “moral responsibility” for the bloodshed. Opposition parties demanded Oli’s resignation, calling him unfit to govern. Journalists rallied in Kathmandu with signs: “No shutdown of social networks, no silencing of voices.”
International pressure is mounting, but Oli shows no signs of retreat.
A Nation at a Crossroads
As night falls on September 8, Nepal remains on edge. The Gen Z Revolution continues to gain momentum, with protesters vowing not to stop until the ban is lifted and Oli steps down.
Analysts warn the crisis could reshape Nepal’s political future, much like youth-led movements in Hong Kong and the Arab Spring. For a country still battling poverty and recovering from natural disasters, the stakes are high.
Oli’s refusal highlights a global dilemma: digital regulation versus free expression. With Meta and Google yet to respond, the world watches to see if Nepal’s ban will hold—or crumble under the weight of its own people.
For now, Kathmandu’s streets echo with the defiant voices of a generation demanding change—one protest, one post at a time.
