Nepal Lifts Social Media Ban After Deadly Gen-Z Protests Kill 19; PM Oli Says ‘We Listened to Youth
Nepal’s government on Tuesday reversed its controversial ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, WhatsApp, and YouTube, following violent protests that claimed 19 lives and injured over 300 people. The decision came amid widespread outrage from the country’s youth, who spearheaded demonstrations against the restrictions and broader issues like corruption, prompting the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on moral grounds.
The ban, imposed last week after platforms failed to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, was lifted after an emergency cabinet meeting. Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed the rollback, stating, “We have lifted the shutdown of social media. They are operational now,” while urging protesters to end their agitation. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, addressing the fallout, emphasized that his administration was not opposed to social media but sought regulatory compliance.
In a statement, he said, “The government was not negative towards the demands put forth by the Gen-Z generation. We were listening to the demands of the Gen-Z generation,” adding that infiltration by external interests had escalated the violence. Oli had earlier defended the move at a public event, arguing it was about upholding national dignity rather than curbing expression. “We are not against platforms or social networks, we are against lawlessness, arrogance, and belittling our country,” he stated, noting that companies had ignored requests to register and pay taxes for over a year.
The protests, dubbed the ‘Gen-Z Revolution,’ erupted on Monday with thousands of young demonstrators, including school students, flooding streets in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, and other cities. Starting peacefully at Maitighar Mandala, the rallies turned chaotic as crowds breached barricades near Parliament, leading to clashes where police used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live fire. Hospitals reported treating at least 347 injured, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of protesters hurling projectiles back at security forces. The government imposed curfews in key areas and deployed the army to restore order, while forming a judicial committee to probe the incidents and provide relief to victims’ families.
The unrest highlighted deeper frustrations among Nepal’s youth over unemployment, nepotism, and governance failures, with viral trends on remaining platforms like TikTok exposing privileges enjoyed by politicians’ families. This is not the first time Nepal has restricted online access; previous bans on Telegram and TikTok were eventually lifted after compliance agreements. Critics, including human rights groups, have condemned the crackdown as excessive, calling for accountability
