Nepal’s government has lifted its controversial social media ban following nationwide protests that left 19 people dead, more than 100 injured, and exposed deep public anger over corruption and authoritarian rule.
The ban on 26 platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, had been imposed last week with the justification of tackling fake news, hate speech and online fraud. But within days it triggered the largest youth-led protests in years. Thousands of demonstrators stormed the parliament building in Kathmandu on Monday, demanding the restrictions be scrapped and accusing the government of silencing dissent.
Communications and Information Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the reversal after an emergency cabinet meeting late on Monday. He said the government acted to “address the demands of Gen Z,” many of whom rely heavily on digital platforms for education, business and activism.
Despite the move, violence had already spread. In Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s hometown of Damak, protesters hurled stones at his house. Police in Kathmandu and other towns used water cannons, rubber bullets and batons to disperse crowds.
Many protesters said their anger ran far deeper than the social media ban itself. Sabana Budathoki, a young demonstrator, explained: “Rather than [the] social media ban, I think everyone’s focus is on corruption. We want our country back. We came to stop corruption.” A viral “nepo kid” campaign that accuses politicians’ children of flaunting lavish lifestyles funded by corruption had already inflamed public anger before the ban.
Prime Minister Oli expressed sorrow over the deaths, claiming the protests had been inflamed by “infiltration by various vested interest groups.” He pledged financial relief for victims’ families and free medical care for the injured, while also announcing a panel to investigate the bloodshed.
The unrest also triggered political fallout. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday evening following criticism over the government’s heavy-handed response.
Authorities had argued the ban was not a total prohibition but rather an effort to force platforms to comply with Nepalese law by registering with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. But the crackdown underscored the risks of curbing online freedoms in a country where social media has become central to daily life, news consumption and political debate.
The protests revealed the growing power of Nepal’s younger generation in shaping politics and showed how restrictions on digital freedoms can ignite wider unrest. While the ban has now been lifted, the anger over corruption and government accountability continues to fuel demonstrations across the country.
