Nepal Reverses Social Media Ban After Youth-Led Protests Paralyze Nation

Kathmandu, Nepal – September 9, 2025 – In a dramatic reversal, the government of Nepal has lifted its widely condemned, week-long ban on major social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. The decision follows days of massive, often violent, and youth-dominated protests that brought the capital, Kathmandu, and other major cities to a standstill, resulting in multiple casualties and a significant political shake-up.

The crisis began last week when the government, citing concerns over national security and the spread of misinformation, abruptly blocked access to the country’s most popular social media sites. The move was immediately denounced by citizens and international rights groups as an authoritarian clampdown on free speech and a blatant attempt to stifle dissent.

What followed was an unprecedented and explosive outpouring of public anger, primarily driven by Nepal’s Gen Z. Young citizens, who rely heavily on these platforms for communication, information, and organising, took to the streets in droves. Initially peaceful demonstrations in Kathmandu’s Maitighar Mandala and other public squares quickly swelled, with protestors demanding the immediate restoration of their digital rights.

The demonstrations took a violent turn as protestors clashed with riot police. Security forces deployed tear gas, water cannons, and batons against crowds that threw stones and attempted to breach government barricades. The unrest escalated over several days, leading to the tragic deaths of at least four individuals and injuring hundreds more, including both civilians and police officers.

The relentless pressure from the streets had swift political consequences. On Monday, facing mounting criticism for his department’s heavy-handed response to the protests, the nation’s Home Minister tendered his resignation, acknowledging a failure to manage the situation. His departure dealt a significant blow to the government’s authority and signaled that its position was becoming untenable.

Facing a paralyzed capital, growing international condemnation, and a potential full-blown political crisis, the Nepalese cabinet convened an emergency meeting late last night. In a statement released in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a government spokesperson announced the immediate revocation of the ban.

“After assessing the situation and acknowledging the public sentiment, the Council of Ministers has decided to lift the restrictions on all social media platforms,” the statement read. The government also pledged to form a committee, including civil society members, to draft a new regulatory framework for social media that would “address concerns without infringing upon the citizens’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression.”

For the protestors, the announcement is a hard-won victory. Activists and student leaders have hailed the reversal as a triumph for democracy and a powerful testament to the influence of citizen-led movements in the digital age.

“They thought they could silence us, but they underestimated our generation,” said a 21-year-old student protestor in Kathmandu. “This wasn’t just about TikTok or Facebook; it was about our freedom. We showed them that the voice of the people cannot be muted.”

As Nepal slowly returns to normalcy, the episode leaves deep scars and raises critical questions about the government’s approach to digital governance. While access to social media has been restored, the memory of the “Digital Uprising” will serve as a stark reminder of the power of a connected youth and the high price of curtailing freedom of speech. Sources