At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal after demonstrations over a sweeping government ban on social media platforms spiralled into violence. The unrest, described as a youth-driven movement, has quickly grown into one of the largest challenges faced by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s administration.
The protests began after the government blocked access to 26 social media platforms and messaging apps that the government says failed to comply with new registration rules. The list includes major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and X. The shutdown, which took effect late last week, left businesses struggling, families cut off from relatives abroad, and young people without the digital spaces they rely on to connect.
According to reports, officials defended the restrictions, insisting that the new rules were designed to curb online harms such as hate speech, misinformation, and digital crime. However, the move quickly drew sharp backlash from global press freedom advocates.
Many journalists rallied in Kathmandu to voice their opposition to the shutdown on Sunday, and by Monday, frustration had reached a boiling point. Tens of thousands of mostly young protesters filled the streets of Kathmandu and other cities, denouncing not only the ban but also corruption and what they called a slide toward authoritarianism.
Placards with slogans like “youths against corruption” became a rallying cry, and despite the lack of social media, organisers found ways to mobilise. TikTok, one of the few platforms not restricted, became a surprising tool for spreading videos highlighting inequality between political elites and ordinary citizens.
The protest outside parliament in the capital turned violent when demonstrators attempted to breach barriers and set fire to the front gate. Police responded with rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas. Most of the fatalities occurred in Kathmandu, while two casualties were recorded in the eastern city of Itahari. Over 100 others are being treated in hospitals for injuries.
The protests have been dubbed the “Gen-Z movement” for their heavy youth involvement, with many insisting the demonstrations go far beyond access to social media.
Authorities have since imposed a curfew in several areas, warning that order must be restored.
