On 8 September 2025, Nepal witnessed one of its largest youth-led uprisings as Gen Z protesters flooded Kathmandu’s streets after the government banned 26 major social media and messaging platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp citing regulatory non-compliance. Only five apps, including TikTok and Viber, remained functional. The ban triggered mass anger, with students, creators, and activists uniting under slogans like “Stop corruption, not social media” while hashtags like #NepoKid went viral, highlighting privilege and inequality.
The protests escalated rapidly near Maitighar Mandala and the parliament area, where thousands breached barricades despite heavy police presence. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and batons, leading to intense clashes. Reports indicate 2–6 deaths and 80+ injuries so far. A curfew was imposed around sensitive zones, but momentum kept growing as youth leaders, comedians, and celebrities joined in, demanding digital freedom, accountability, and systemic reforms.
The government defends the ban as necessary to curb fake accounts, fraud, and hate speech, but critics see it as suppression of free speech amid rising corruption allegations. With 90% of Nepal’s 30 million population online, the shutdown has sparked both domestic and global debates over digital rights, governance, and generational activism,marking a pivotal moment where Nepal’s Gen Z challenges the status quo.
Source: The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/world/asia/nepal-protests-gen-z-social-media.html
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