September 8th, 2025 - 19 Dead as Nepal’s ‘Gen Z’ Protests Erupt Over Social Media Ban and Corruption

Nepal’s government indicated late Monday that it would roll back its ban on major social media platforms, following a day of violent protests that left at least 19 people dead. The unrest, triggered by restrictions on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and WeChat, was the most widespread in recent memory, fueled not only by the social media ban but also by anger over corruption and economic inequality.

In the capital, Kathmandu, protesters surged toward the Parliament complex, briefly occupying a security post before police dispersed them. Witnesses reported that authorities used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and water cannons, though it was not immediately clear how the fatalities occurred. Hundreds more were wounded in clashes with security forces.

The protesters, largely teenagers and young adults, have embraced the label “Gen Z protest.” Acknowledging their youth, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Nepal’s minister for communication and information technology, announced that the government would lift the ban on more than two dozen social media platforms. Access to the platforms will be gradually restored.

While the social media restrictions sparked the protests, they were also driven by frustration with the government’s handling of corruption cases and widespread economic inequality. Authorities banned gatherings near Parliament, but demonstrators blocked highways as security forces struggled to maintain order. The unrest spread to other regions, including Pokhara, Chitwan, and Janakpur.

Eight people died at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu, with additional fatalities reported at Kathmandu Medical College and Civil Service Hospital. Doctors described their emergency wards as overwhelmed, highlighting the scale of the crisis. The violence has drawn condemnation both domestically and internationally, with calls for a thorough investigation.

Analysts note that free speech is highly valued in Nepal, and the ban on social media was seen as a severe restriction on democratic space. The protests were also inspired by social media coverage of youth-led demonstrations in neighboring countries, including Indonesia and Bangladesh. Many participants wore school or college uniforms to emphasize their youth.

The United Nations and multiple foreign embassies issued statements urging restraint and respect for peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Meanwhile, domestic political opposition, including members of the coalition government, called for accountability and criticized the social media restrictions. The government’s decision to lift the ban is seen as an attempt to ease tensions amid ongoing scrutiny of Nepal’s handling of both civil liberties and public protests.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Sanguine (adj, SANG-gwin) - Sanguine is a formal word that today almost always describes someone who is confident and hopeful, or something that shows confidence and hopefulness. Sanguine can also describe something that is bloodred in color, something involving or relating to bloodshed, or a person’s reddish complexion.

Example: The young group of entrepreneurs is sanguine about the future of their business.

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