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Nepal’s Gen Z Revolution: Youth Protest Corruption and Social Media Ban in Kathmandu

Thousands of young Nepalis, led by Generation Z, took to the streets of Kathmandu in a powerful demonstration against government corruption and a recent social media crackdown, sparking clashes with security forces.

  • Mohsin Khaiyam

Mohsin Khaiyam

Nepal’s Gen Z Revolution Youth Protest Corruption and Social Media Ban in Kathmandu Photograph: (Special Arrangement)
Nepal’s Gen Z Revolution Youth Protest Corruption and Social Media Ban in Kathmandu Photograph: (Special Arrangement)

Thousands of young Nepalis, led by Generation Z, took to the streets of Kathmandu in a powerful demonstration against government corruption and a recent social media crackdown, sparking clashes with security forces.

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Dubbed the “Gen Z Revolution,” the protests erupted after the KP Sharma Oli-led government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X, on September 4 for failing to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

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The movement, fueled by frustration over systemic corruption and economic disparities, saw protesters breach police barricades near the Parliament building. Authorities responded with tear gas, water cannons, and, in some instances, gunfire, injuring several demonstrators. The escalating unrest prompted a curfew in key areas of the capital, including around Parliament, as tensions mounted throughout the day.

Despite government-imposed internet and phone restrictions, young activists organised via platforms like TikTok and Reddit, rallying at Maitighar Mandala before marching toward Parliament.

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Videos circulating online captured chaotic scenes, with tear gas clouds and protesters throwing objects like branches and bottles in response to police actions. Some demonstrators even entered the Parliament compound, defying security measures.

Protesters condemned the social media ban as an attempt to stifle dissent and curb free expression, rejecting the government’s claim that it was merely enforcing regulatory compliance.

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The ban, they argued, was a deliberate move to silence critical voices amid growing public discontent.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli defended the restrictions, speaking at a Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) convention. He insisted that “undermining the nation’s sovereignty is unacceptable” and emphasised that businesses profiting in Nepal must adhere to its laws. “We stand against arrogance and lawlessness,” Oli declared, adding that national dignity outweighs the economic impact on a few individuals.

Nepal Protest