What is the real cause behind Nepal’s violence : social media ban or revolt against corruption ?

Kathmandu (Nepal) – Nepal has been shaken by youth-led protests. The uprising, ongoing for the past two days, has turned violent. The central question remains: is the true cause only corruption and the social media ban, or something deeper ? The debate is raging not just in Nepal but worldwide.

Timeline behind the violence

1.Nepal’s Supreme Court had made registration mandatory for all major social media platforms. Despite repeated notices, the companies refused. The Government responded by imposing a ban, which critics warned would gravely impact freedom of expression and livelihoods.

2.Since November 2023, the Government has issued five public notices and written directly to companies. Meta and others ignored them. On August 28, the Government gave a seven-day ultimatum, and when that expired, the ban was enforced.

3.Twenty-seven platforms including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Threads, YouTube, Snapchat, Pinterest, Signal, Clubhouse and Rumble were banned. TikTok, Viber, WeTalk, Nimbuzz and Popo Live remained operational as they had registered locally.

4.Facebook had recently launched a monetization program allowing creators to earn directly from reels, posts and videos. The Government’s restrictions cut off this income, hitting the digital economy hard and fueling anger among youth.

Who is behind the protests ?

The NGO Hami Nepal played a key role in mobilizing students. Using Instagram and Discord, it circulated guides on how to protest. Students were told to carry school bags and books, and to attend in uniform. During the demonstrations, they marched with placards reading Youths Against Corruption which were produced and promoted by Hami Nepal itself.

Editorial Perspective

Last year’s violent protests in Bangladesh also saw heavy student involvement. That movement resulted in regime change and had repercussions on India as well. The possibility that the Nepal unrest is part of an international conspiracy to destabilize India cannot be ruled out.