Nepal Social Media Ban Triggers Mass Gen-Z Protests

On September 4, 2025, the Nepalese government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn, illegal. The government claimed that these platforms have become a menace to national security and social peace. Following this decision, youths belonging to Generation Z started to protest on 8 September 2025, in Kathmandu and other big cities.

Demonstrators also slogged against corruption and freedom of expression oppression. They headed to the building of the parliament where the police had to use tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to manage the masses. There are some demonstrators who stormed into the parliament premise, compelling the police to apply force.

Key Events and Impact:

Social Media Ban:

• The Nepalese government blocked 26 large social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, and YouTube.
• The platforms had to be registered officially in Nepal, against which they could be barred.
• The prohibition was to contain the abuses of social media to propagate misinformation, hate speech, and fraud.

Protests and Civil Unrest:

• Nearly thousands of young people, primarily students and young professionals, marched all the way to the federal parliament in New Baneshwor, starting at Maitighar Mandala.
• The protest anthems included slogans like “Stop Corruption, Not Social Media” and the Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, had to resign.
• The violence increased when protesters forced their ways through the police barricades into the parliament premises.

Violence and Casualties:

• Control of crowds was through use of tear gas, water cannon, and rubber bullets by the police.
• It resulted in the killing of at least 14 individuals and the wounding of dozens of people in the confrontations.
• A number of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

Government Response:

• It instituted curfew in strategic places and this covered Baneshwor, Baluwatar (residence of the Prime Minister), Singha Durbar (government complex), Shital Niwas (residence of the President), and Lainchaur (residence of the Vice-President).
• To help the police to stabilize the situation and get Nepal out of this mess, the Nepalese army was sent to help them.

Digital Governance and Civil Rights Implications:

• The incidents underscore the problem of the regulation of social media in the era of digital activism.
• The demonstrations signify increased political consciousness among the Gen Z generation and the involvement of online resources in the mobilization of the citizens.
• The issue of balancing national security issues and freedom of expression is still a major challenge to governance in Nepal.

International and Regional Significance:

• These protests have drawn attention from South Asia and the international community regarding democratic rights and digital freedom.
• Nepal’s handling of digital governance could set a precedent for neighboring countries facing similar challenges.

Conclusion

Generation Z in politics The Nepal Social Media Ban of 2025 led to the largest youth-led protests in history, proving the impact of Generation Z. These measures of the government such as the curfewing and deployment of the army highlight the conflicts between national security and civil liberties. The events play a vital role in comprehending modern digital governance, youth mobilization, and political accountability in South Asia, thus they are very important in examinations of both UPSC and SSC.