Nepal lifts social media ban after deadly 'Gen Z protests'

Nepal has lifted a social media ban following protests that resulted in the deaths of 19 people, Cabinet spokesperson and Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said on Tuesday.

The move followed violent "Gen Z" protests against corruption on Monday, which were sparked by the ban and left 19 people dead and more than 100 injured.

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli expressed sorrow over the violence, attributing it to “infiltration by selfish groups.”

“An investigation panel will be set up to find out the causes, assess losses and suggest measures within 15 days to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future,” Oli said in a late-night statement on Monday.

Protest organisers, whose movement spread to other cities across the Himalayan nation, described the rallies as "Gen Z demonstrations."

They said the unrest highlighted young people's deep frustration over the government’s failure to address corruption and create better economic opportunities.

The ban on several social media platforms, including Facebook, announced last week, further fuelled youth anger.

Officials defended the move, saying it targeted platforms that had not registered with the government as part of efforts to curb fake identities, misinformation, and hate speech.

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