Nepal’s government has revoked its ban on 26 social media platforms after mass protests led by Gen Z demonstrators left at least 20 people dead and more than 300 injured, in what has quickly evolved into one of the largest anti-government movements in recent years.
The KP Sharma Oli-led administration announced late Monday it had withdrawn the restrictions following an emergency Cabinet meeting, after days of violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Kathmandu and other cities. Minister for Communication, Information and Broadcasting Prithvi Subba Gurung said agencies had been instructed to restore access to all 26 blocked platforms, including Facebook and X.
The ban, introduced three days ago on the grounds that the platforms had failed to register with Nepali authorities, sparked outrage and fuelled wider anger over corruption allegations against Oli’s government. What began as online dissent swiftly escalated into mass demonstrations outside Parliament and across urban centres, dubbed the “Gen Z Revolution”.
Thousands of mostly young protesters, many still in school or college uniforms, poured onto the streets carrying the national flag and placards reading “Shut down corruption and not social media” and “Youths against corruption”. Protesters broke through police barricades, entered restricted zones and clashed with security forces, prompting police to open fire at multiple locations.
Authorities imposed a day-long curfew in central Kathmandu, the Bhairahawa border area near India and dozens of other cities as violence spread. The Nepal Army was deployed to enforce order in protest-hit areas. By late Monday night, officials said the situation was largely under control, though security forces remained on high alert in anticipation of further unrest.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned amid the turmoil, citing moral responsibility. His resignation came as the protests widened beyond Kathmandu and spread to towns across the Himalayan nation.
Prime Minister Oli initially refused to back down, describing the demonstrators as “Gen Z troublemakers”. In a Cabinet meeting earlier, he had declared, “Even if I have to step down as Prime Minister, I will not lift the ban on social media.” Several ministers from the coalition partner Nepali Congress staged a walkout in protest at Oli’s stance, eventually forcing a reversal.
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The protests, however, go beyond the social media restrictions. Many participants described the agitation as a broader civil rights movement. Suhana, a protester, said the movement included people across generations.
“The protest is against the pent-up anger against misgovernance and corruption. It has evolved into a wider civil rights movement demanding accountability and change,” she said.
The demonstrations were triggered on September 4th when the government ordered internet providers to block 26 platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X.
While the government insisted the move was to enforce regulatory compliance, activists saw it as censorship designed to silence critics.
Despite phone and internet shutdowns, protesters mobilised through alternative platforms like TikTok and Reddit. Marches began at Maitighar Mandala in central Kathmandu before advancing towards the Parliament building, where clashes turned deadly.
Oli’s administration is now grappling with the fallout from the bloodshed, which has intensified scrutiny of his leadership. For many protesters, lifting the ban will not be enough to end what they describe as decades of entrenched corruption and unaccountable governance.
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