Youth Uprising Over Social Media Ban
Nepal has experienced a historic flood of protests in the wake of the government suddenly banning 26 widely-used social media platforms including Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. While the government claims the ban was a necessary step to regulate misinformation, most citizens—including those in Gen Z—have interpreted this as an on assault on free speech and expression. In fact, Gen Z youth, frustrated with years of corruption and failure to achieve political progress, turned what should have been a mundane government obligation into an opportunity to mobilize against their government once again. New streets filled with protesters calling for accountability and transparency and the restoration of their digital rights across Kathmandu and other urban areas.
Chaos, Violence, and Rising Casualties
Initially peaceful protests rapidly turned violent, with protesters rioting with police outside government buildings, burning cars, and trying to storm parliament. Security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live fire, increasing the fury on the ground. 19 tragically lost their life, hundreds were injured, and the police crackdown was one of Nepal’s deadliest in recent years. The government was already under pressure from criticism within and outside the country, when they lifted the ban on social media but they had already done the damage and public trust had broken down even more and calls for broader political reform and change became louder.
Prime Minister Resigns Amid Political Turmoil
Following mounting violence and deaths, Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned and expressed that the government has failed to deal with the grievances of the people. His resignation aligned with a significant change in the political landscape of the country. He promised a caretaker government and an investigation against the violent crackdown on protesters, but many citizens are doubtful. Protestors are calling for systemic transformations, such as accountability for corruption, the promise of better economic opportunities for youth in Nepal, and the protection of democracy. Nepal occupies an important temporal juncture: either it uses this moment to genuinely reform the country, or it enters a future of foreseen instability in the next couple of months.
