Lifting of Social Media Ban: 10 Key Advancements in Nepal's Gen-Z Protests

In Nepal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced the lifting of the social media ban on September 9, 2025, in a statement late Monday evening. The ban, which was imposed on September 4, was lifted after a series of violent protests led by Gen-Z Nepal.

The protests, primarily comprising college and school-going students, were a result of widespread frustration with dwindling economic opportunities and persistent corruption. However, the protest turned violent when security forces attempted to break into the parliament, resulting in a spree of shooting that left at least 19 people dead.

Following the incident, the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States issued a joint statement expressing sorrow over the violence. The seven diplomatic missions extended their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to all those affected by the unrest.

The United Nations Human Rights Office also called for a prompt and transparent investigation into the killing and injury of protesters during demonstrations in Nepal.

Prime Minister Oli, instead of taking responsibility for the incident, blamed "infiltrating" groups for Monday's violence. In a move to address the aftermath, a probe committee will be formed to submit its report within 15 days, as announced by Oli.

The Minister for Communication, Information and Technology, Prithivi Subba Gurung, confirmed that Prime Minister Oli will not resign. However, the name of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Communication, Information, and Technology who confirmed that Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms were accessible again after the ban was not provided.

The news of the social media ban lift comes as a relief to many, but the nation remains in a state of unrest, with calls for justice and accountability growing louder.

Image Source: Canva/ET Now Time: 08:22 IST Topic: Nepal Gen-Z protest Publication: ET Now Journalist Covering: Ramesh Lekhak Author: Shahnaz Parveen