Gen Z Set to Protest in Kathmandu Against Corruption, Social Media Ban

Generation Z , a demographic cohort born roughly between 1997 and 2012, is set to take to the streets of Kathmandu Monday, September 8, to protest corruption and the government’s recent ban on social media platforms.

The planned demonstration follows a viral online campaign that spread despite restrictions on more than two dozen platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Meta and X, which the government blocked for failing to register in Nepal within the given timeframe.

Some social media posts suggest similar protests could take place in other parts of the country.

The movement takes cues from youth-led protests in Southeast Asia, where young netizens have called out the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ families in contrast with the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.

Videos on TikTok—one of only five platforms formally registered under Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology—juxtapose images of luxury accessories, overseas holidays, and lavish lifestyles with scenes of families struggling to afford food and youths flying to the Gulf for employment.

Using the hashtag #nepobabies, young Nepalis have accused the children and grandchildren of politicians of living extravagantly off wealth and power accumulated through corruption.

Calls for mobilisation in Kathmandu have spread mainly through Tiktok and Reddit, which is among the 26 banned platforms. 

Some netizens calling people to join the demonstration have branded the campaign a “Gen Z rebellion” against what they describe as arbitrary government action and entrenched corruption.

Authorities confirmed they have been informed about the planned gathering. “We have arranged measures to ensure the protest remains orderly,” Muktiram Rijal, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, told New Business Age on Sunday afternoon. “Demonstrators can protest peacefully at the designated area, but should not attempt to enter prohibited zones.”

Some online posts related to the planned protest call for violent acts such as arson, targeting government buildings. The scale and nature of the protest remain uncertain, with controversial figures and even political parties signalling interest in joining. Several leaders have warned against hijacking the youth-led movement for political gain.

Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah has publicly expressed support, writing on Facebook: “Tomorrow’s rally is clearly a spontaneous movement of Gen Z... No party, leader, worker, MP, politician, or activist should be allowed to use this spontaneous rally to fulfill their own interests.”

Earlier this year on March 28, Kathmandu descended into chaos as pro-monarchy protests at Tinkune escalated into violence, leaving two people dead and dozens injured. 

Visuals from the scene, widely circulated on social media, revealed extensive acts of arson, vandalism, and looting by protesters. Various properties, including the party office of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and the building of the Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd. at Jadibuti, were torched, while multiple vehicles were set on fire. 

Media offices were also targeted in the violence. 

The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, had to impose a curfew in Tinkune and surrounding areas to contain the situation.