Nepal just got a crash course in “don’t mess with Gen Z.” The government thought blocking social media would silence people. Instead, it handed young Nepalis the perfect rallying cry, and the streets lit up, sometimes with actual flames.

The Great Blackout of 2025

Out of nowhere, authorities banned 26 social media platforms, yes, the whole kit: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X. Basically, every app you use to procrastinate was suddenly illegal. Official reason? Stopping “fake identities” and “misinformation.” Translation: “We don’t like people criticizing us online.”

Why People Really Protested

Here’s the truth: this wasn’t about losing TikTok trends. The ban was just the matchstick. The fuel was years of frustration:

  • Corruption: Politicians running the country like a family business.
  • Unemployment & brain drain: Nepal’s youth see more future in Dubai or Sydney than in Kathmandu.
  • Generational anger: Gen Z is sick of watching the same old leaders play musical chairs with power.
  • Democratic backsliding: From social media bans to pro-monarchy rallies, freedoms feel like they’re shrinking fast.
  • So, when the apps went dark, the streets lit up.

Gen Z Said Nope

Young Nepalis already fed up took to the streets, chanting, marching, demanding change. The government’s response? Tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live fire. By the end, 19 people were dead and over 100 injured. The irony: banning social media only made the protests go viral worldwide.

Panic Mode in Kathmandu

After the bloodshed, the government scrambled. Suddenly:

  • The ban was lifted, restoring all 26 platforms.

  • Curfews were slapped on major cities.

  • A 15-day investigation was promised (because committees solve everything).

  • Compensation and medical care for victims’ families were announced.

But no amount of hashtags, curfews, or token payouts can erase the fury.

The Bigger Picture

Nepal’s rulers thought a digital muzzle would work. Instead, they woke a sleeping dragon: a restless, tech-savvy, politically conscious Gen Z that refuses to stay quiet.

The protests may have started with a Facebook ban, but at their core, they’re about dignity, democracy, and a generation refusing to inherit a broken system.

Nepal’s question now isn’t whether people can scroll Instagram, it’s whether its democracy can survive the wrath of a youth that’s done being ignored.