What caused Nepal's Gen Z protests in September 2025?

The Gen Z protests in Nepal in September 2025 were triggered by a combination of immediate government actions and deep-seated frustrations among young people regarding systemic issues.

A. Immediate Trigger: Social Media Ban: The most immediate catalyst for the protests was the Government of Nepal's decision to shut down 26 popular social media platforms on September 4, 2025. These platforms included Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, LinkedIn, Reddit, Signal, and Snapchat.

The government justified the ban by stating that these platforms had failed to register under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology's new rules and did not comply with local regulations concerning data privacy, sovereignty, and the nation's digital infrastructure. Officials also cited concerns about the rapid spread of misinformation, hate speech, cybercrime, and the use of fake IDs that disrupt social harmony.

However, critics widely viewed the ban as an act of censorship and an attempt to suppress dissent and control the digital narrative. For Gen Z, social media was not merely entertainment but a vital public sphere for expressing concerns, a political tool, a job board, news wire, organizing tool, and social lifeline. The move was perceived as a direct assault on freedom of speech and access to information.

B. Underlying Grievances: While the social media ban was the immediate spark, the protests had deeper origins in the public's widespread frustration with long-standing systemic issues.

1. Government Corruption and Nepotism:
   • Perceived corruption and display of wealth: A major driver was public anger over the perceived corruption and conspicuous display of wealth by government officials and their families.
   • "Nepo Kid" trend: A viral social media trend, using hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal and #NepoKids, highlighted the lavish lifestyles, luxury brands, foreign vacations, and degrees of political elites' children and relatives, contrasting them with the struggles of ordinary Nepalis. Many youths suspected that the wealth displayed by these "Nepo Kids" came from corrupt earnings. This campaign directly linked elite privilege to corruption and widened inequality. Corruption is a deeply rooted social issue in Nepal, with political, court, and administration sectors being the most corruption-prone, losing government credibility.
2. Youth Unemployment and Economic Hardship:
   • Nepal faces a significant youth unemployment problem, with rates around 20.36% in 2023 and 20.82% in 2024 for the 15-24 age group. This is considerably higher than the national average.
   • Many young Nepalis, despite being educated, struggle to find decent jobs at home, leading to a massive exodus of nearly 5,000 young people leaving the country daily for work abroad. Remittances from these migrant workers make up a significant portion of Nepal's GDP (around 33%), highlighting an economy that exports its youth rather than providing domestic opportunities.
   • There is a disconnect between the education system and labor market needs, with outdated curricula and insufficient vocational training failing to prepare youth for available jobs. Societal biases favoring white-collar jobs further exacerbate the issue.
   • Economic stagnation, high inflation, and widening inequality further compounded the frustration.
3. Governmental Accountability and Transparency:
   • Protesters demanded governmental accountability and transparency. They felt sidelined from decision-making and expressed disbelief in authority.
   • There was widespread frustration over the mismanagement of public funds and the perception that their taxes were not being utilized properly.
   • The "Gen Z" movement was largely leaderless and non-partisan, operating on a decentralized model, signifying a demand for a new form of civic engagement beyond traditional party hierarchies.
4. Political Instability and Authoritarian Tendencies:
   • Nepal has experienced significant political instability, with frequent changes in government (13 different governments since 2008), leading to widespread disillusionment with the ruling class and a lack of trust in traditional political parties.
   • The government's "authoritarian attitude" and its heavy-handed response to dissent, including the use of force against peaceful protesters, further fueled the outrage. The use of vague cyber laws to silence journalists and activists has been a persistent issue.

In essence, the social media ban, while the immediate trigger, "detonated so quickly" because it converged with years of economic hardship, perceived government corruption, a lack of opportunities for youth at home, and a feeling that traditional channels for civic engagement had failed.