September 10, 2025
DHAKA – Nepal is currently witnessing one of its most widespread youth-led uprisings in modern history, triggered by a government-imposed social-media ban and fuelled by growing anger over corruption and nepotism.
The protests broke out after the government blocked access to 26 platforms — including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram — following a directive requiring all social-media companies to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
The move was intended to enforce a Supreme Court order aimed at curbing “undesirable content,” but critics saw it as a crackdown on digital expression and media freedom.
The ban came just as a viral online movement targeting political elites and their children — dubbed “nepo kids” — was gaining traction.
Borrowing from the Hollywood term “nepo baby,” Nepali users began exposing the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, accusing them of misusing public funds.
Posts on TikTok and Reddit, some viewed over a million times, highlighted foreign trips, luxury purchases, and perceived entitlement, sparking outrage among young citizens.
While the social-media shutdown served as the immediate catalyst, protesters say the deeper issue is systemic corruption and inequality.
“We want our country back — we came to stop corruption,” one demonstrator told the BBC.
The protests have since escalated into violent clashes, resulting in at least 19 deaths and hundreds injured.
The Nepal government has lifted the ban and launched an investigation, but curfews remain in place as tensions continue to simmer.