By Avery Bridson, ’27
News Editor
Gen Z is considered by many to be the first to grow up on social media. Born from the mid-90s to early 2010s, this generation consumes more content each day than any other. When the government of Nepal tried to ban 26 major social media platforms, the young adults of the country did not sit by quietly. They took to the streets to protest what they called censorship and authoritarian rule.
The government of Nepal made the decision to ban the social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, in September. The ban was implemented after the app owners refused to comply with the request to register with the Nepali government and limit information. Officials argued that the move was about ‘sovereignty and regulation,’ not censorship, but the citizens thought differently. They felt that their democracy and freedom of expression were just temporary privileges. This led to protesters peacefully gathering to argue against the government’s decision. However, it quickly escalated to violence and destruction.
On September 8, police shot at the protesters near the Parliament building, causing at least 19 deaths, including a 12-year-old child, and over 100 injuries. The next day, thousands of young protesters stormed the parliament building. They destroyed the interior, ransacking valuables and setting rooms on fire. The prime minister’s house was also set on fire, leading to his resignation. The power vacuum was filled by Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female prime minister, who holds a zero-tolerance policy on government corruption and political censorship. The social media ban and national curfew were lifted shortly after, with Karki pledging to end corruption and respond to the demands of the people.
This issue is not unique to developing countries like Nepal. Recently in Mexico, thousands of members of Gen Z organized through social media in massive protests against crime and corruption. Similar protests have occurred in the past two years from Bangladesh and Kenya to Italy and Peru. For students anywhere, this story demonstrates how youth activism online can translate into political change for the better.
The Hawk 
This is very well written and really goes over the tragedies that occurred on that day.
LikeLike
For your post about the gen Z Napal war on censorship, I believe you bring a very interesting point of that in the gen z generation, all they have done was worried about social media because it’s been around for all so long. Overall, I believe you have described this topic very well and hope you keep up the good work!
LikeLike
This really informed me about the unfortunate disaster that occurred. You made great points, and I look forward to reading more.
LikeLike
It’s definitely inspiring to see how the younger generation not only came together to stand up for their rights but were also able to successfully bring about change.
LikeLike
This is incredibly interesting! It was fascinating to read about what’s happening around the world and to see the cause-and-effect relationship between different laws, regulations, and how people respond to them.
LikeLike
This was incredibly interesting! It was fascinating to read about what’s happening around the world and to see the cause-and-effect relationship between different laws, regulations, and how people respond to them.
LikeLike
Hello, I like that you provided similar incidents, as well as talking about the resulting actions of this protest.
LikeLike
This article was very fascinating and really gave me a good perspective on what is going on in the world.
LikeLike
I like this article because it show what is happening in other places around the world. Also I like the information about the situation
LikeLike
It’s cool how the world uses social media in different parts of the world.
LikeLike
this was really interesting and shows what is happening around the world.
LikeLike
This post is very informative about what is going on in another country and how the younger generation sees social media as more than just entertainment
LikeLike
This is a very well written and fascinating take on the protests going on in Nepal. It’s inspiring to see change made from a younger generation and to see gen Z advocating for a better country. The addition of connecting this story to similar situations worldwide was done very nicely.
LikeLike
This is a very informative post and does a very good job of getting the information across in a plain and easy to understand way. I also like how it gives multiple examples across the globe. Overall very well thought out and written.
LikeLike
This article informed me greatly about the problem of censorship in Nepal. I found it interesting that you said 26 social media platforms have been banned in Nepal. Great article!
LikeLike
This article informed me greatly about the censorship problem that is going on in Nepal. I found it interesting that 26 social media platforms have been banned in Nepal. Great article!
LikeLike