What’s REALLY Happening in Nepal? | The Gen-Z Revolt Explained | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

In September 2025, Nepal witnessed unprecedented youth-led protests, primarily driven by Gen Z, demanding an end to corruption, nepotism, and rising unemployment. The demonstrations escalated after the government banned major social media platforms, fueling nationwide outrage. Protesters clashed with police, resulting in deaths and widespread violence, ultimately leading to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's resignation. The movement highlighted the power of social media in exposing elite privileges and mobilizing citizens, revealing deep political instability and economic frustration. Nepal's protests serve as a stark lesson on the consequences of ignoring public grievances and the vital role of democratic accountability in addressing systemic issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 The protests in Nepal in September 2025 were largely driven by Gen Z, aged 20 to 25, who were frustrated with corruption, unemployment, and government mismanagement.
• 😀 The spark for the protests came after the Nepali government imposed a ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, leading to widespread backlash.
• 😀 While the social media ban was justified by the government as a measure to combat fake news and cybercrimes, it was widely seen as an attempt to suppress dissent and control public opinion.
• 😀 The government's heavy-handed response to the peaceful protests included using water cannons, rubber bullets, and even live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 protesters, including a 12-year-old child.
• 😀 One of the most significant issues fueling the protests was the high youth unemployment rate in Nepal, which stood at over 20%, leading many young people to seek jobs abroad, even in dangerous roles like fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• 😀 Social media played a crucial role in exposing the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children, leading to the viral #NepoKids movement that highlighted the stark contrast between the elites and the everyday struggles of the Nepali youth.
• 😀 In addition to the social media issue, widespread corruption and nepotism among Nepal's political leaders were key grievances for the protesters, who demanded systemic reforms.
• 😀 Nepal's political system, marked by frequent changes in leadership and ongoing corruption scandals, has led to disillusionment among the population, particularly the youth.
• 😀 The government’s response to the protests was authoritarian, using force to try to suppress dissent, but ultimately, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign, and the social media ban was lifted.
• 😀 The protests in Nepal serve as a powerful lesson for governments worldwide: ignoring public grievances, especially related to corruption, unemployment, and inequality, can lead to civil unrest and destabilization.

Q & A

What triggered the Nepal protests in September 2025?

The protests were triggered by multiple factors, including a social media ban, corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and economic inequality, with the social media ban acting as the immediate spark.

Who primarily led the protests in Nepal?

The protests were primarily led by Gen Z youth, mostly aged 20 to 25, who formed the majority of demonstrators in Kathmandu and other cities.

Which social media platforms were banned during the protests?

26 major social media platforms were banned, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat, and Twitter. TikTok was the only major platform that remained accessible.

What role did social media play in escalating public anger?

Social media exposed corruption, nepotism, and lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children (#NepoKids trend), fueling youth frustration and mobilizing large-scale protests.

How did the Nepali government respond to the peaceful protests initially?

The government deployed police forces using water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and eventually live bullets, resulting in at least 19 deaths and over 400 injuries.

What economic challenges contributed to the protests?

High youth unemployment (20.82% in 2024), lack of job creation, and economic inequality drove frustration. Many Nepalis sought work abroad, including joining the Russia-Ukraine war to earn money.

What historical context influenced the protests?

Nepal transitioned from a monarchy to a federal democratic republic in 2008, but since then, government instability and repeated corruption scandals among a handful of politicians eroded public trust.

What were the outcomes of the September 2025 protests?

The protests forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, lifted the social media ban, and led to calls for systemic reforms, although some anti-democracy groups advocated a return to monarchy.

How did the government justify the social media ban?

The government claimed the ban was necessary to enforce registration of social media companies, prevent hate speech, fake news, fraud, and other cybercrimes.

What does the Nepal protest demonstrate about governance?

The protests highlight that ignoring citizen grievances, corruption, nepotism, and economic inequality can lead to widespread unrest, and democratic governments must remain accountable to their people.

What impact did the protests have on Nepal’s tourism and families abroad?

The social media ban disrupted tourism outreach and bookings, and millions of Nepali families relied on messaging apps to communicate with relatives abroad, further fueling public anger.

Why did some Nepalese consider returning to monarchy?

Frustration with persistent corruption and ineffective democratic governance led some citizens to contemplate reinstating monarchy, although the protests emphasized that solutions should remain democratic.