Guwahati: Thousands of young people in Nepal staged a massive protest in Kathmandu on Monday, marching through the capital to demand that the government lift its social media ban and tackle the nation’s deep-rooted corruption.
The government blocked access to 26 unregistered platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, last Friday, leaving millions of users cut off from the services. Instagram, widely popular among young Nepalis for entertainment, news, and business, was also affected.
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Carrying national flags, protesters — mostly from Generation Z — began their rally by singing the national anthem before chanting slogans against the social media restrictions and what they described as Nepal’s entrenched corruption.
“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. “We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal.”
Another demonstrator, 20-year-old student Ikshama Tumrok, criticised the government’s “authoritarian attitude.” She added, “We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation.”
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Despite the ban, TikTok remains accessible in Nepal, where videos highlighting the stark contrast between ordinary citizens’ struggles and the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children have gone viral in recent days. “There have been movements abroad against corruption, and they (the government) are afraid that might happen here as well,” said protester Bhumika Bharati.
The cabinet had earlier directed social media companies to register in Nepal, appoint a grievance redressal officer, and establish a local compliance office within seven days, following a Supreme Court order issued in September last year.
In a statement on Sunday, the government said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to ensuring an environment for their protection and “unfettered use.”
Nepal has imposed similar restrictions in the past. In July, the government blocked access to the Telegram app citing rising cases of online fraud and money laundering. It also lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok in August last year after the platform agreed to comply with local regulations.