Kathmandu witnessed major unrest as hundreds of Gen Z protesters took to the streets against the Nepal government’s controversial decision to ban unregistered social media platforms. Demonstrators, led by the group Hami Nepal, gathered at Maitighar and later moved toward the Federal Parliament, demanding an end to corruption and reversal of the social media ban. The situation escalated when protesters entered restricted zones, prompting security forces to fire tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and even aerial shots. As clashes intensified, authorities imposed a strict curfew in the Baneshwor area, covering several key junctions, and declared the situation “highly tense.”
The protests come after Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s administration blocked 26 platforms, including global giants like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, after they failed to register under Nepal’s Directive on Regulating the Use of Social Media, 2023. The government had given companies a seven-day deadline to comply, which expired on September 3, but no registrations took place. Oli defended his government’s move, saying it was not against social media itself but against “lawlessness, arrogance, and disrespecting the nation.” He further argued that tech companies must pay taxes and operate under Nepal’s constitution instead of bypassing national laws.
Despite the ban, organisers have been relying on alternative channels to coordinate protests, urging students to join in uniform while carrying books as symbols of peaceful resistance. The Nepal Army has been deployed to maintain order, but tensions remain high as demonstrators continue clashing with authorities. The growing movement, dubbed the “Gen Z rebellion,” has gained momentum online with hashtags like #NepoKid and #NepoBabies trending across the country. Analysts warn that the ban could backfire, as cutting off access to widely used platforms may fuel more anger among youth and undermine the government’s credibility both at home and abroad.
