Anil Rachamalla @ End Now Foundation
In September 2025, the Nepalese government ordered 26 major social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X (Twitter), Snapchat, and LinkedIn, to stop operating, as they had allegedly disobeyed a new registration and content-regulation regime. According to officials, it was a matter of ‘sovereignty’ and ‘national security’.
For Nepal’s Gen Z, it seemed like an attack on their expression and free speech. The social media applications were not just entertainment platforms but sources of news, classrooms, career networks, and ways of self-expression.
Why does social media matter for Gen Z?
In Nepal, 80% of people aged under 30 use social platforms (like Facebook and Twitter) as their first source of news and civic information. Many people see Facebook and Instagram as the equivalent of a notice board, a town square, or a protest site.
Unlike their elders, this group coordinates petitions, crowdfunding, and protests mostly online. Removing these platforms is like closing every town hall overnight.
Social media offers friendship and emotional support networks, which are important. Taking the apps away caused real distress in young users. In interviews with local outlets, they used words like ‘suffocation’ and ‘social isolation’.
What actually happened: Timeline & key events
– Protests erupted on September 8 in Kathmandu and other cities. Security officials used tear gas and rubber bullets at some protests near Parliament. At least 19 people died on the first day.
– The government underestimated the magnitude. The ban was rolled back quickly (by September 9). The violence was much more than expected, and protests overwhelmed many institutions. Buildings and government properties of politicians were set on fire, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned.
– Teenage protesters organised through various informal networks, social media (before it was banned), and offline channels. It appears that intelligence and security forces were caught unaware by the rapid unfolding of events.
– Parliament was set ablaze, party headquarters were damaged, political leaders’ locations were attacked, government offices were set on fire, curfews were imposed, and the army was deployed.
– The ban on social media was lifted eventually.
Misreading a digital generation
The Nepal government seemed to think that banning the apps could assuage dissent or limit ‘foreign influence’. In fact, it took away a pressure valve and gave the fragmented youth movement a unifying cause. Intelligence agencies failed to anticipate how rapidly Gen Z would switch to alternative channels, nor how much they would feel the ban was an assault on their dignity.
The authorities felt that banning certain apps could heighten dissent or limit ‘foreign interference’. In fact, it took away a pressure-release valve and gave a unifying cause to disparate youth movements. Intelligence agencies were caught off guard by the speed at which Gen Z transitioned to alternate channels. They also misjudged how much they would feel that the ban was an affront to their dignity.
From distress to protest
On September 8, Gen Z took to the streets chanting for free speech and democracy in Kathmandu. Due to their inability to use traditional channels, they resorted to using VPNs, SMS, and offline networks, which is a classic example of how digital habits impact political change. There was unrest on the first day, and security officials killed 19 people with bullets and tear gas; dozens more were killed on the second day. On the third day, in spite of the curfew and army deployment, government structures were brought down to the ground.
Collapse and the climb-down
The government revisited the decision and restored the social media platforms. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned under pressure, and elections were called. The damage had been done. Analysts are now referring to the incident as Nepal’s “Gen Z Uprising,” the first major street movement anywhere triggered by a widespread social media blackout.
Lessons from Nepal
– Bans don’t work anymore in the electronic age. They do not shut down dissent; they merely amplify it.
– According to members of Gen Z and Millennials, social media is a vital utility for society, just like a public road. Cutting them off feels like cutting electricity or water.
– Governments should consult before they enforce rules and allow a step-by-step introduction of regulations—no surprise bans—but credible safeguards for rights.
Conclusion
The turmoil in Nepal demonstrates the dangers of a government that sees social media merely as a threat to security and not the connective tissue of a generation. Social media is not leisure for Gen Z; they learn, work, date, organize, and dream there. When these feeds went quiet, their anger went public and turned around the politics of a country in days.
Anil Rachamalla
Founder of End Now Foundation, Internet Ethics & Digital Wellness Expert
End Now Foundation is India’s pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to promoting better internet ethics and digital well-being. With a core mission of advocating for digital safety, we collaborate across sectors to raise awareness and empower communities
