Nepal lifts social media ban after protests leave 19 dead
Nepal has finally lifted its controversial social media ban, but not before the streets turned violent and left at least 19 people dead.
The decision to roll back the ban was confirmed Tuesday by Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, who told reporters that platforms like Facebook were back online.
The protests, which have come to be known as “Gen Z demonstrations,” erupted last week when the government abruptly blocked access to major platforms, citing concerns about fake accounts, hate speech, and misinformation. For many young Nepalis, though, the ban felt like the last straw in a country already struggling with corruption, unemployment, and a lack of opportunity. By Monday, thousands had poured into the streets of Kathmandu and other cities, demanding accountability from their leaders.
The protests turned deadly when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to stop crowds from marching toward Parliament. Nineteen lives were lost, and more than a hundred others were injured in the clashes. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in a late-night address, admitted he was “saddened” by the violence, though he blamed what he called “selfish infiltrators” for escalating the unrest.
To calm public anger, Oli promised compensation for the families of those killed and pledged that injured protesters would receive free medical treatment. He also announced the creation of an investigation panel, which has just 15 days to determine what went wrong, assess damages, and recommend measures to prevent such bloodshed in the future.
For Nepal’s young generation, however, the issue runs deeper than just a ban on social media. Organizers of the demonstrations say their movement is about demanding real change from a government they see as corrupt, disconnected, and unresponsive. While the ban may be gone, the frustrations that brought thousands of Gen Z Nepalis to the streets are still simmering.
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