Nepal is witnessing an unprecedented political upheaval as its youngest generation takes to the streets in what has become known as the Gen Z Revolution. The massive protests that erupted in September 2025 have fundamentally altered the country’s political landscape, forcing Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign and revealing deep generational tensions between Nepal’s youth and its established political elite.
The Spark That Lit the Fire
The immediate catalyst for the protests was the government’s decision on September 4, 2025, to ban 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X. The ban was officially justified as a regulatory measure requiring platforms to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. However, critics viewed this as a direct attempt to silence the growing anti-corruption discourse among young Nepalis.
The timing of the ban was particularly significant as it coincided with the viral “Nepo Kids” movement on social media. This digital campaign exposed the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children through TikTok videos and Instagram posts, contrasting their luxury cars, foreign education, and extravagant holidays with Nepal’s harsh economic reality where the average annual per capita income is just $1,400. These posts, tagged with hashtags like #NepoKids, #NepoBabies, and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal, garnered millions of views and intensified public anger against perceived corruption and nepotism.
How Youth Interact with the Present Government
Digital Natives Turned Street Activists
Nepal’s Gen Z, comprising individuals born between 1997 and 2012, represents a digitally native generation that has fundamentally reshaped political engagement in the country. With nearly 90% of Nepal’s 30 million population using the internet and social media serving as the primary communication tool for the large Nepali diaspora, the government’s social media ban directly threatened this generation’s core mode of interaction.
The protests demonstrated a generational rupture in civic engagement. Unlike traditional Nepali protests dominated by hierarchical student wings of political parties, the Gen Z movement was characterized by:
- Decentralized organization: The movement operated without formal leadership, coordinating through digital networks and alternative platforms like TikTok and Viber
- Non-partisan approach: Organizers explicitly excluded political parties from participation, demanding that traditional political actors stay away
- Horizontal mobilization: Young people organized independently through nonprofit groups like Hami Nepal, which originated as a youth movement in 2015
Growing Political Participation
Despite the current tensions, Nepal has seen increasing youth political participation in recent years. The 2022 general elections marked a significant milestone, with youth accounting for 41% of the total elected representatives in local elections. This represented a dramatic increase in young people’s political involvement at the provincial and local levels, though federal participation remains limited.
The National Youth Policy (NYP) launched in 2015 has provided a framework for youth integration into public affairs, recognizing young people aged 16-40 as comprising 40.68% of Nepal’s population. The policy outlines 15 strategic objectives including youth empowerment, leadership opportunities, and meaningful participation in governance.
The Underlying Crisis: Economic Frustration and Systemic Corruption
Youth Unemployment and Migration
The protests reflect deeper structural issues facing Nepal’s youth. Youth unemployment stands at a staggering 20.82% for those aged 15-24 as of 2024, significantly higher than the global average of 15.70%. This economic reality forces over 500,000 young Nepalis to enter the job market annually, with many ultimately migrating abroad for work.
The migration crisis is acute: over 740,000 Nepalis left the country for foreign employment in the past year alone. Government estimates suggest that about 7.5% of Nepal’s population lived abroad as of 2021, with many working in Gulf countries and relying on social media platforms for family communication.
Corruption Scandals and Political Instability
The youth protests were fueled by numerous high-profile corruption scandals that have gone largely unpunished. Notable cases include:
- The 2017 Nepal Airlines Airbus deal, where the purchase of two A330 jets resulted in losses of 1.47 billion rupees ($10.4 million)
- Various corruption allegations against most senior political leaders, including former and current Prime Ministers
- Widespread perception that political families live lavishly while ordinary citizens struggle
Nepal’s political instability has compounded these issues, with 13 different governments since 2008, creating a cycle of ineffective governance that has particularly frustrated younger generations.
The Government’s Response and Its Consequences
Violent Crackdown and Its Aftermath
The government’s response to the protests proved catastrophic. On September 8, 2025, security forces deployed live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas against demonstrators, resulting in at least 19-22 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The violent crackdown included:
- Police firing on protesters attempting to breach parliament walls
- Use of water cannons and tear gas against school and college students
- Army deployment to control key areas including Tribhuvan International Airport
The excessive force backfired spectacularly. Instead of suppressing the movement, it intensified public anger and led to more widespread violence, with protesters torching government buildings, political party headquarters, and politicians’ homes.
Political Collapse
The crisis culminated in Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation on September 9, 2025, just one day after the deadly crackdown. His resignation letter referenced “the extraordinary situation” in the nation, marking a dramatic victory for the youth-led movement.
The Broader Implications: A New Political Reality
Generational Political Awakening
The Gen Z protests represent more than a response to specific grievances; they signal a fundamental shift in Nepal’s political culture. This generation has demonstrated its capacity to:
- Self-organize without traditional political structures: The movement operated independently of established political parties
- Leverage digital tools for political mobilization: Despite the social media ban, protesters adapted by using alternative platforms and VPNs
- Maintain sustained pressure for systemic change: Protesters’ demands extend beyond the social media ban to include broader anti-corruption measures and governmental accountability
Impact on Traditional Politics
The movement has forced a reckoning for Nepal’s established political class. The youth explicitly rejected the country’s traditional system of patronage, cronyism, and nepotism. Their demands include:
- Mass resignations of government officials
- Dissolution of parliament and fresh elections
- Independent anti-corruption investigations
- Greater youth representation in decision-making processes
Looking Forward: Challenges and Opportunities
Sustainable Engagement
While the protests have achieved immediate political impact, the challenge lies in translating street mobilization into sustained democratic participation. Nepal’s political parties must now grapple with a generation that demands:
- Transparency and accountability in governance
- Merit-based opportunities rather than nepotistic advancement
- Digital rights and freedom of expression as non-negotiable components of the social contract
Structural Reforms
The crisis has highlighted the need for fundamental reforms in Nepal’s political and economic systems. Key areas requiring attention include:
- Youth employment programs to address the 20.82% unemployment rate
- Anti-corruption mechanisms with genuine enforcement powers
- Digital governance frameworks that balance regulation with freedom of expression
- Decentralized economic development to create opportunities beyond migration
Conclusion
Nepal’s Gen Z revolution represents a watershed moment in the country’s democratic evolution. The youth have demonstrated that they will not accept the status quo of corruption, nepotism, and digital censorship that has characterized Nepal’s political landscape. Their interaction with the present government has evolved from digital dissent to street activism, ultimately forcing political change through sustained pressure and sacrifice.
The movement has proven that Nepal’s youngest generation possesses both the technological sophistication and political determination to challenge entrenched power structures. As one protester eloquently stated, “Gen Z will not back down now. This protest transcends social media issues—it’s about silencing our voices, and we refuse to allow that”.
The success of these protests in forcing governmental change suggests that Nepal’s political future will be significantly influenced by youth engagement. However, the challenge now lies in channeling this energy into constructive democratic participation that can address the underlying issues of corruption, unemployment, and inequality that sparked the movement in the first place.
For Nepal’s political establishment, the message is clear: the old ways of governance are no longer acceptable to a generation that demands transparency, accountability, and genuine democratic participation. The Gen Z revolution has not just changed the government; it has fundamentally altered the relationship between Nepal’s youth and its political system, setting the stage for a more engaged and demanding form of democratic citizenship.