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Why Nepal's social media ban triggered Gen-Z protests
Gulf News
|September 09, 2025
ANGER OVER APP BANS IN KATHMANDU MERGES WITH CORRUPTION OUTRAGE
More than 15 people were killed in Nepal as police cracked down on protesters demanding the government lift its sweeping ban on social media apps and put an end to corruption.
The unrest, led largely by Gen-Z activists, has escalated into one of the biggest challenges for Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government.
What triggered protests?
The spark was the Oli government’s decision last week to block 26 major social media and messaging platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and X — after companies failed to register with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication under new rules.
Only a handful of apps such as TikTok, Viber and Popo Live complied and remain accessible. Millions of Nepalis suddenly found themselves locked out of their daily communication tools.
Why the ban?
This story is from the September 09, 2025 edition of Gulf News.
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