Shut Down Corruption, Not Social Media: The Fire Gen Z Lit in Nepal

There’s a powerful tension in that moment of calm before the roar begins. Nepal’s Gen Z rarely made headlines, quietly living with day to day corruption, limited opportunities, and an uneven justice system.

Then came the ban. Twenty six social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and YouTube were suddenly blocked across the country. Officials said it was about telecom registration, but the timing revealed something deeper.

For days, young Nepalis had been exposing the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children. Expensive bags, luxury cars, holidays abroad. All of it went viral under hashtags like #NepoKids. The internet blackout looked less like regulation and more like damage control.

It struck at the heart of a generation that lives and earns online. Two-thirds of Nepalis depend on social media for livelihood and connection. Shutting it off felt like shutting down their voice.

The protests began peacefully. Students marched with flags, chanting outside Parliament. Their demand was simple: end corruption, not social media.

But peace was short lived. Security forces used water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas, and eventually live rounds. The same youth who wanted answers went home wounded or did not return at all.

Nineteen people were confirmed dead within hours. Hundreds more were injured. Curfews were declared across several cities.

The government quickly reversed the social media ban. The Prime Minister resigned. But none of that erased the fact that innocent lives had been lost.

So who is responsible for this tragedy? The answer cannot be brushed aside. Leaders who ordered the ban lit the fire. Police who obeyed commands blindly became its fuel. And society itself, which tolerated corruption for decades, left the youth to carry the heaviest burden.

The police in particular have difficult questions to answer. Their duty was to protect citizens, not the comfort of politicians. When they promised a “safe environment” for protesters but instead unleashed force, they betrayed the very people they were sworn to serve.

And the politicians who watched this unfold cannot claim innocence. They chose to silence the internet rather than address corruption. They chose to defend privilege instead of confronting injustice. By the time they reversed their decision, the damage had already been written in blood.

But responsibility is not theirs alone. Citizens too must look inward. For years, bribes at every level, silence in the face of misuse, and apathy toward accountability allowed corruption to grow roots. The same public that sometimes pays under the table or ignores misconduct cannot wash its hands clean when the system collapses.

Gen Z, however, refused to play that game. They did not tolerate being silenced. They did not accept being dismissed as a generation that only runs abroad. For once, they stood tall in the streets of their own cities. That courage deserves recognition, not punishment.

Reading stories from the ground is heartbreaking. A friend shielding another, only to be shot. Entire alleys filled with tear gas where there was no escape. These are not images of a riot. They are the memories of peaceful protestors met with force.

This was no longer only about corruption or internet freedom. It became about justice for those killed while demanding their rights. It became about the value of a young life in Nepal.

The truth is simple. Everyday corruption, decades of broken promises, and the arrogance of the elite made this explosion inevitable. The social media ban was only the spark.

If this energy fades, it risks becoming another headline in a long history of protests. But if the grief and anger transform into steady persistence, change is possible.

Nepal’s youth have shown they are willing to risk everything for truth. The next step is to make sure their sacrifice is not in vain.

This movement must demand real investigations into the killings, accountability for those who misused power, and protection for free expression. Anything less would mean accepting that lives lost are just statistics.

Nepal woke up. Now it cannot go back to sleep.