Nepal’s Gen Z protests due to a social media ban by the government
- Doyoung Lim
- Sep 16
- 1 min read
Sep 16, 2025
Doyoung Lim
On September 8, 2025, thousands of Gen Z protesters took to the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city. Due to a social media ban, the massive youth-led protests. Almost 200 people are estimated to have been injured in clashes with police, who used tear gas, water cannons, and live bullets as protesters climbed the walls of infrastructure, parliament, and other official buildings.
Social media plays a significant role in Nepali life. The government has decided to ban 26 social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The following protests turned violent in Kathmandu and some other cities in Nepal, causing 19 protesters to die in a crash with police on the last Monday.
Young Nepalese people led this protest. This protest is unlike any seen before in Nepal. Although there has been no organized leadership, thousands of young people have emerged as a group of protesters. The majority of them are college students who have been linked to a social media blockade.
Two slogans were symbols of this protest—#NepoBaby and #NepoKids. These slogans have gained popularity on social media, showing the extravagant lifestyle of politicians and their families. Videos of the protest went viral on TikTok and Instagram, revealing the contrast between the lives of politicians with their lavish lifestyles and the residents’ lives of harshness.
