Nepal Restores Social Media After Deadly Gen Z Protests
Nepal Lifts Social Media Ban Following Deadly Protests
Kathmandu — The Nepalese government has lifted the social media ban it imposed last week, Cabinet spokesperson and Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed.
The decision comes after violent protests on Monday, which left 19 people dead and more than 100 injured. The demonstrations, led by young activists calling themselves “Gen Z,” erupted in response to the social media shutdown.
“We have withdrawn the shutdown of social media. All platforms are now working,” Gurung told Reuters. By Tuesday morning, Reuters confirmed that access to all apps had been restored across Nepal.
Authorities, however, have imposed an indefinite curfew in Kathmandu to prevent further unrest. Kathmandu district administrator Chhabilal Rijal warned that “no protests, mass gatherings, meetings, or assemblies of people will be allowed during the curfew.”
In Lalitpur district, a curfew has been set until midnight (1815 GMT) on Tuesday. The move follows calls from protesters to hold condolence meetings in memory of those killed during Monday’s clashes.
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli expressed sorrow over the violence, citing “infiltration from different selfish centres” as a cause. He announced that the government will provide financial support to the families of the deceased and free medical treatment to the injured.
An investigation panel will also be established to identify the causes, assess losses, and propose measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The panel is expected to report within 15 days, Oli said in a late-night statement on Monday.
The protests, which have spread to other cities across Nepal, reflect growing frustration among young people over government inaction on corruption and limited economic opportunities. Organizers describe the demonstrations as “Gen Z protests.”
Last week, the government had blocked access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, citing a failure to register with authorities amid a broader crackdown on fake accounts, misinformation, and hate speech. The ban, however, appears to have sparked the unrest it was meant to prevent.
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