Nepal Social Media Ban Sparks Deadly Protests, PM Oli Resigns

In September 2025, Nepal's government imposed a ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X, aiming to regulate content and enforce tax registration. The ban triggered widespread protests led predominantly by Gen Z activists, who not only demanded the reversal of the ban but also broader systemic reforms against corruption and nepotism, culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and violent clashes that resulted in at least 19 deaths. As mainstream platforms were blocked, protesters and citizens turned to alternative communication tools such as Discord and Jack Dorsey’s decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app Bitchat, which operates without internet infrastructure using Bluetooth mesh networks, enabling encrypted, censorship-resistant messaging. Bitchat saw a surge in downloads from Nepal, with over 48,000 installs during the unrest, highlighting its role as a vital communication lifeline amid attempts at internet censorship. The protests expanded beyond the social media ban to challenge entrenched elite privilege, with demonstrators attacking government buildings and continuing to organize via these alternative platforms even after social media services were restored. These events underscore the challenges governments face in controlling digital spaces and the resilience of digital activism in authoritarian contexts.