Nepal Social Media Ban Protests

Thousands of young Nepalis, primarily Generation Z, are protesting in Kathmandu against the government's ban on 26 unregistered social media platforms, including Meta Platforms, Google — YouTube, and X (social network), and against institutionalized corruption. The ban, which began on Friday, has left millions of users angry and confused, as platforms like Meta Platforms — Instagram are crucial for entertainment, news, and business. Protests have escalated, leading to police using tear gas and water cannons, imposing curfews, deploying the army, and reports of violence resulting in casualties and injuries in Damak and New Baneshwar. The government's decision to block platforms followed a Nepal — Supreme Court of Nepal order from September last year, requiring companies to register locally. While some platforms like ByteDance — TikTok Shop remain operational and are being used to share viral content highlighting the protests, major global services have yet to comply. India has increased security along its border in response to the unrest.