Nepali Youth Protest To Social Media Ban, Demand End to Corruption

Thousands of young people took to the streets of Kathmandu on Monday, calling on the government to lift its ban on social media platforms and to tackle entrenched corruption in the country.

Since Friday, major platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and X have been inaccessible in Nepal after authorities blocked 26 unregistered sites, sparking widespread frustration. Popular platforms like Instagram, used by millions for business, news, and entertainment, were also affected.

Waving national flags, protesters—mostly from Generation Z—began their march with Nepal’s national anthem before chanting against both corruption and the social media restrictions. “We were triggered by the social media ban, but that is not the only reason we are gathered here,” said 24-year-old student Yujan Rajbhandari, adding that demonstrators were also standing against institutionalised corruption.

Other protesters denounced what they described as the government’s authoritarian tendencies. Viral TikTok clips highlighting the contrast between the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children and the hardships of ordinary citizens have fueled the anger. Protesters accused the government of trying to stifle dissent by restricting online platforms.

The government has defended the move, saying platforms must register locally, set up a point of contact, and appoint compliance officers in line with a Supreme Court order. Officials insisted they remain committed to protecting freedom of expression. Nepal has imposed similar restrictions before, including a ban on Telegram and a temporary suspension of TikTok.