What happened in Nepal’s Gen-Z Protest?
As per the Directive regarding the management of social media use 2023, social media platforms are mandated to register with the Ministry of Communication in Nepal. They should also appoint a contact officer as a local liaison, along with a grievance handling officer, to ensure accountability and self-regulation. Within the given timeline, all the social media platforms did not follow the regulatory compliance for operating these platforms within the country.
Therefore, the Nepalese government has ordered the ISPs or Internet service providers to block the access of approximately 26 social media platforms that include Facebook, WhatsApp, X-Twitter, Reddit, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Threads, Discord, Signal and many more. By following the Supreme Court order and the non-compliance of registration with the Nepalese government, the enforcement began on the midnight of 4th September 2025.
Justification of the government due to Nepal’s Gen-Z Protest
Maintain the platform's accountability
The Government of Nepal has justified that they imposed a ban on social media platforms to control the fake accounts, cybercrime and misinformation. Moreover, the government is concerned with protecting social harmony, maintaining law and order and also enabling local grievance redressal.
Details of Nepal’s Gen Z protest
Mass protest in Kathmandu
From 7th September 2025, 9:00 a.m. onwards, the demonstrators assembled in Maitighar in Kathmandu to express their dissent. This rally was organised by Hami Nepal with the prior approval of the young professionals and students gathering in Central Kathmandu. Singing the national anthem and waving the national flag, all the protesters march towards the parliamentary complex while chanting slogans against the corruption and restrictions imposed by the government in public life.
Violent clashes
The protest has escalated into violent clashes with the police personnel, resulting in several injuries and even the death of one protester. Police responded to a large gathering with tear gas and water cannons, and also threw bullets toward the protesters who attempted to storm the Parliament Gate.
Stormed parliament
The situation of protest has dramatically escalated after demonstrators breached the restricted zone and stormed the parliamentary premises. This triggered a heavy police crackdown with water cannons and live ammunition.
Curfew extended
The Kathmandu district administration office extended the curfew after all the clashes. Initially, the curfew was imposed in some parts of Baneshwar, but it is now covering the wider zone, including all sides of Singha Durbar and the President’s residence.
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The concerns of Nepal’s Gen-Z
Suppressing the voice of youth
The huge backlash came into the picture when the government ordered 26 social media platforms to be blocked nationwide. The protesters have stated that this ban is a direct assault on speech, connectivity and work. They also said the government was suppressing the youth voice in the context of corruption by cutting off the vital tools for communication.
Thousands of young people have taken to the streets of Kathmandu to protest the government's decision to ban 26 popular social media platforms.
Beyond the social media
Beyond the social media ban, the protesters have claimed that they were triggered by the corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal. The entire youth of Nepal wants visible changes so that it can save this generation.
The real reason behind the enormous protest
Nepal, the country that dismantled the monarchy 16 years ago to build democracy. Nepal is struggling with rising unemployment. It is important to note that unemployment is increasing in Nepal. Furthermore, the service and industrial sectors are simultaneously facing an acute shortage of skilled professionals.
Nepal Gen-Z protest continues after social media ban
VPN to continue the protest
Unlike the older generation tied to party ideology, Gen-Z organisation leaderless protests on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms. The protest has used various hashtags like nepokid, nepobaby to show that disparities between the common people and the people belonging to a political family that directly mock dynastic politicians.
The protest continued even after the government imposed a ban on social media platforms. They used campus network, VPNs and offline meet-ups to continue the protest.
Downfall of the government due to the Nepal Gen-Z protest
Politicians flee the country
The protesters called for violence against politicians and their offspring, the government officers and the armed forces. The violence became more severe in nature, where messages like “kill neta ko chora chori” have been placed on the Instagram stories, Discord, and even on TikTok, which translates to kill the sons and daughters of these leaders. The protesters set the parliament and then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s residence ablaze.
This situation compelled the prime ministers, along with the other ministers, to flee in helicopters and leave the country. It ultimately brought a massive revolution that resulted in a huge uprising and the overturning of a government. Different hashtags and chanting against the corruption of the politicians are enough to dismantle the government by the Generation Z of Nepal.
The way forward
Nepal's youth is not only concerned about the apps but is also a direct assault on their voice, especially when the government wanted to suppress their voice against corruption. The entire youth generation, including Generation Z, demands leaders who will be connected to anti-corruption first. The leader also needs to focus on increasing employment and providing jobs based on meritocracy. They also need a leader who will be attached to neither left nor right but a result-oriented people welfare in Nepal.