Following the KP Sharma Oli government's decision to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, twenty people have died and more than 347 have been injured as thousands of young Nepalese citizens took to the streets in protest.
The demonstrations, which originated in the capital city of Kathmandu, have since spread to other parts of the country. A curfew has been imposed in several areas, including Baneshwor, Singhadurbar, Narayanhiti, and other sensitive government zones.
Police have responded to the protests with force, firing rubber bullets and teargas shells. A young protest leader then urged others to retreat, claiming that external groups had infiltrated the crowd to incite violence. The leader declared, "We have already won today." As the protests have escalated, Prime Minister Oli has called a cabinet meeting for this evening, and the Army has been deployed to the New Baneshwor area after the demonstrations turned violent.
The protests were triggered by the social media ban, which was announced on Thursday after several platforms failed to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. A notice had given social media giants one week, starting August 28, to register with the government.
However, major platforms such as Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), Alphabet (which owns YouTube), X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn did not submit applications by the deadline. This directive from the government was in line with a Supreme Court order from the previous year, which had mandated that the social media companies establish a point of contact and appoint a resident grievance handling officer and a compliance officer.
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In contrast, TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live are all registered with the government and remain in operation in Nepal. Applications from Telegram and Global Diary are reportedly under review.
According to a report in The Kathmandu Post, Nepal has approximately 13.5 million Facebook users and 3.6 million Instagram users, many of whom rely on these platforms for their businesses. The social media ban initially sparked the demonstrations, which then evolved into a broader anti-corruption protest.
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Yujan Rajbhandari, a 24-year-old student, said to news agencies, "We were triggered by the social media ban, but that is not the only reason we are gathered here. We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal." Another student, 20-year-old Ikshama Tumrok, said she was protesting against the government's "authoritarian attitude", adding, "We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation."
In a video circulating on social media, a protester can be heard saying, "When the leaders' sons and daughters have a bright future, where is ours?" In a statement on Sunday, the government asserted its respect for freedom of thought and expression and stated its commitment to "creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use".
The government had previously blocked access to Telegram, citing its use for online fraud and money laundering. Last year, the government had also banned TikTok, but the ban was lifted in August after the platform agreed to comply with Nepalese regulations.
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