Nepal Lifts Social Media Ban After Deadly Youth Protests

Nepal has lifted its ban on social media platforms following violent protests that left at least 19 people dead and hundreds injured, the government confirmed on Tuesday.

“Social media platforms have been opened, which was among the Gen Z’s demands,” Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung told AFP. “We are open to talk with the protesters.”

The rollback came just days after authorities blocked access to Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and 23 other platforms, citing unregistered operations. The move sparked outrage, especially among young Nepalis who rely heavily on digital platforms for communication, news, and business.

On Monday, police unleashed one of the harshest crackdowns in recent memory when thousands of young protesters defied restrictions in Kathmandu and other cities. Demonstrators pushed through barbed wire near parliament, clashed with security forces, and set fire to tyres while chanting anti-government slogans.

According to police, 17 people were killed in Kathmandu and two more in the eastern Sunsari district. Around 400 were injured, including more than 100 police officers.

“Nearly 20 people were murdered by the state, that shows the scale of police brutality,” said 23-year-old student protester Yujan Rajbhandari. “The government … have to take responsibility for the lives that were lost.”

An eyewitness at Kathmandu’s Civil Hospital described scenes of chaos as injured protesters poured in. “Tear gas entered the hospital area as well, making it difficult for doctors to work,” said information officer Ranjana Nepal.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, 73, expressed sorrow after an emergency cabinet meeting where the interior minister resigned. “The government was not in favour of stopping the use of social media and will ensure an environment for its use,” he wrote in a letter overnight. Oli also ordered the creation of an investigation committee into the violence.

International organisations condemned the crackdown. Amnesty International said live ammunition was used against protesters, while the United Nations called for a “swift and transparent probe.”

The protests highlighted frustrations among Nepal’s youth, who face high unemployment and widespread corruption in a country where GDP per capita stands at just $1,447, according to the World Bank.

In recent days, TikTok videos contrasting the hardships of ordinary Nepalis with the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children have gone viral, further fuelling anger.

“This isn’t just about social media , it’s about trust, corruption, and a generation that refuses to stay silent,” the Kathmandu Post wrote in an editorial.

“Gen Z grew up with smartphones, global trends, and promises of a federal, prosperous Nepal,” the paper added. “For them, digital freedom is personal freedom. Cutting off access feels like silencing an entire generation.”

Nepal has a history of online restrictions. It banned Telegram in July over fraud concerns and only lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok last year after the company agreed to comply with local rules.

The latest crisis, however, marks the bloodiest confrontation between state power and digital-age youth in Nepal’s modern history.