Nepal’s Gen Z Leads Mass Protests Against Social Media Ban in Kathmandu

Thousands of young Nepalis have poured onto the streets of Kathmandu after the government imposed a sweeping ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, X and WhatsApp. What began as an outcry over digital restrictions has escalated into the largest youth-led uprising the country has seen in years, fueled by broader frustrations over corruption and political dysfunction.

Protesters, many in their teens and 20s, rallied outside Parliament chanting slogans such as “Shut down corruption, not social media.” Demonstrators attempted to storm barricades near Singha Durbar, the government headquarters, prompting police to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons. Authorities later imposed a curfew across parts of the capital.

Casualty figures remain disputed. Local media have reported between two and eight deaths, while hospitals confirmed more than 80 people injured in clashes, including journalists caught in the crossfire.

The protests were triggered last week when Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology ordered platforms to suspend operations unless they formally registered under new regulations. Officials argued the ban was necessary to curb disinformation and protect national security. Critics, however, say the move is a thinly veiled attempt to stifle dissent and control online spaces heavily used by Gen Z.

Opposition parties have voiced support for the demonstrators, warning the government that the ban risks deepening instability. International human rights groups have also raised concerns about freedom of expression and access to information.

Whether the restrictions will hold remains unclear. Many Nepalis have already turned to VPNs to bypass the blocks, while organizers vow to continue street protests until the ban is lifted. For now, Kathmandu remains under tight security, with riot police stationed around major intersections and the city bracing for further unrest.

Like in other parts of South Asia, censorship is not new in Nepal. Earlier this year, Nepali auteur Deepak Rauniyar’s Venice-bowing “Pooja, Sir: Rajagunj” released in the country after a contentious battle with government censors that left the film with significant alterations.

The scenes in Nepal echo mass youth protests in neighboring Bangladesh last year, where students and young professionals mobilized against corruption, unemployment and government crackdowns. That movement, which paralyzed Dhaka for weeks, ultimately forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign after more than 15 years in power, reshaping the country’s political landscape and underscoring the rising influence of South Asia’s younger generations.