• Source:JND
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Nepal Gen Z Protests: Nepal saw a record-breaking tide of demonstrations this month, led by Gen Z activists who turned to unconventional technologies after the government censored popular social media sites. The campaign, which started as a protest against corruption and nepotism, compelled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to step down, with erstwhile Chief Justice Sushila Karki being sworn in as Nepal's first woman interim Prime Minister.

Social Media Ban Sparks Anger

The protests broke out shortly after the government issued a ban on 26 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, as non-compliant with registration regulations. While TikTok and Viber remained online, others went dark, disconnecting millions of users throughout Nepal.

The authorities claimed the limits were to maintain "social harmony," but young protesters viewed it as an explicit target of free speech. Within hours, VPN sign-ups surged nearly 6,000 percent, according to Proton VPN, while downloads of Jack Dorsey’s offline chat app Bitchat jumped from just over 3,000 to almost 50,000 in less than a week.

How Social Media Apps Sparked Nepal's Gen Z protests

Digital rights activists claim that the Nepali government had misjudged the potential of technology in facilitating political change. What started as a cyberspace vent against corruption soon escalated into a nationwide rebellion with help from alternative apps that evaded state censorship.

• The government ban on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other apps enraged the public.

• Sign-ups for VPN surged 6,000 per cent as citizens wanted ways to circumvent the block.

• Bitchat, a Bluetooth messaging application, recorded downloads surged almost 1,400 per cent.

• Discord channels were turned into "digital parliaments" with over 1,45,000 users.

• Hashtags such as #NepoKids went viral, stoking outrage against corruption and inequality.

• Offline tools such as mesh networks and encrypted chats facilitated coordination on the ground.

Even as Bitchat enabled protesters to share live updates without the internet, several flocked to the US-based messaging app Discord. One server had over 1,45,000 members, with debates on political change and caretaker rule. The conversations online soon turned into action on the streets. On September 8, tens of thousands of Nepali youths took to the streets of Kathmandu, calling for an end to cothe rruption and extravagant lifestyles of political fat cats and their children. Tragically, clashes with police left at least 72 people dead, including protesters, police officials, and inmates who attempted to escape amid the chaos.

From "NepoKids" To "Martyrs"

Much of the online fury was fueled by viral tweets that included the #NepoKids hashtag, which castigated politicians' children as being at luxury at the expense of average Nepalis dealing with unemployment and increased prices. Comparisons of lavish vacations and luxury clothing with everyday difficulties were shared widely, even in rural regions.

ALSO READ: Nepal Sets Parliamentary Election Date After Gen Z-Led Protest Forces Oli Out

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who took charge after Oli’s resignation, announced that all those killed in the protests would be recognised as “Martyrs.” Families of the deceased will receive 1 million Nepali rupees each, while the government has promised to cover medical expenses of the injured. “We are not here to cling to power. The caretaker government will work towards returning peace, compensating victims, and laying the groundwork for democratic elections in six months," Karki said in a press briefing.

ALSO READ: Historic Shift In Nepal Politics: Can Sushila Karki Fulfil Gen Z's Expectations As First Woman PM? 7 Major Challenges

As Nepal enters a period of political transition, the protests have shown how young people, armed with smartphones and creativity, can overcome censorship and change the course of their nation’s future.