Major Social Media Sites Restored In Nepal A Day After Violent Protests Leave 19 Dead

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 08:22 IST

According to a report, Nepal’s Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung was quoted by local media as saying that government has withdrawn its ban after an emergency meeting

Protests in Nepal over social media ban. (Image: X)

All major social media sites have started working in Kathmandu, a day after a violent protest left 19 dead in the nation over people’s demand that the government lift its restrictions and tackle the corruption instead.

According to an AFP report, Nepal’s Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung was quoted by local media as saying that the government has withdrawn its ban, following an emergency cabinet meeting.

Nepal has been rocked by violent protests after the government moved to block 26 unregistered social media platforms, cutting off access to popular sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and X in the Himalayan nation of nearly 30 million people. The restrictions, imposed on Friday, quickly ignited widespread anger—particularly among the younger generation, who rely on these apps for communication, education, and work.

The move has deepened resentment against the government at a time when Nepal faces mounting economic woes, with unemployment hovering around 10 percent and GDP per capita stuck at just $1,447, according to World Bank data. For many citizens, the ban has become a symbol of misplaced priorities by leaders out of touch with the hardships of ordinary people.

By Monday, demonstrations had erupted in Kathmandu and several other cities. Protesters waving national flags marched through the capital before breaking through barbed wire barriers near parliament. The situation escalated when police resorted to rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and batons to push back the crowds. Amnesty International claimed that live rounds were also fired.

Several local media reports claimed that 19 people were killed in Kathmandu and two more in the Sunsari district in eastern Nepal as security forces attempted to regain control. Hospitals in the capital said dozens of injured protesters had been admitted, many with gunshot wounds.

The unrest has also been fuelled online, with TikTok, one of the few platforms not blocked, flooded with viral videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, flaunting designer clothes and luxury holidays. The clips have intensified anger, painting a stark picture of inequality in a country already struggling with economic stagnation.

Despite the crackdown, access to platforms like Instagram, hugely popular among Nepalis for entertainment, news, and small businesses, remains suspended, leaving millions cut off from their primary digital spaces and driving further outrage onto the streets.

About the Author

Abhro Banerjee

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ…Read More

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ… Read More

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