From Flex to lifeline-and Beyond: The Revolutionary Social Media Use of the Gen Z in Nepal

September 8, 2025, In Kathmandu, Nepal, angry protesters, many of whom are Generation Z, march toward the Nepalese Parliament building with flags and placards reading “Shut down corruption, not social media,” all the while chanting their demands for political change.  https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/nineteen-killed-nepal-gen-z-protest-over-social-media-ban-corruption-2025-09-08/?utm

Other federal buildings and the opulent residences of several high-ranking political officials are torched by protesters. Several of these officials have called rescue helicopters, in hopes of escaping the mob. Within the frenzy of the situation, cameras have managed to air the following scenes, not just to major news networks, but also to social media outlets worldwide. For Nepal, political upheaval is an old tune, as the nation has undergone major political turmoil cycling through 14 governments since becoming a republic in 2008; however, what distinguishes this current political event from others prior, stems from whom the primary voices of the protesting organizations rise from. The 2025, Anit-corruption Protests of Nepal have been primarily mobilized by the unlikely youth of Gen Z, through the unconventional use of social media to challenge the nation's political landscape.

 Spanning over the time of several decades, Nepal has continuously suffered from government corruption and nepotism, despite the numerous major political upheavals, many of which having drastically altered Nepal’s political landscape. According to CPI (Corruption Perceptions Index) Research, Nepal scores a 34 out of 100 (being the cleanest), indicating the government’s low transparency. (Transparency International's 2024, (Wikipedia). Such corruption of the government inevitably leads to socioeconomic inequality. The per capita income of an average Nepalis sits around $1,400 a year, while youth unemployment has soared up to 20% (the world bank), forcing much of the population’s youth to seek foreign employment. In the fiscal year 2023-2024 alone, over 741,000 individuals left the country for work. (https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/over-741-000-nepalis-left-for-foreign-employment-in-fy-2023-24Nepalis). Struggling with tight job opportunities at home, young Napalis citizens heavily rely on Social Media platfroms for searching jobs overseas, conducting interviews, and connecting with their family members home once they leave the country for employment. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/social-media-after-triggering-protest-avalanche-now-acts-as-link-between-kol-and-home-for-nepalis/amp_articleshow/123814775.cms?utm

While social media serves as a lifeline and a means to basic survival for many, “NepoKids,” the children and relatives of high political officials use these very same social platforms to flourish and flex the extravagance of their lifestyles. As one notable example, Shivana Shrestha, the daughter of the former minister of health and daughter-in-law of the former Prime Minster, often displays luxurious clothes, accessories, international vacations, and upscale living. https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/people/nepal-gen-z-protests-shivana-shrestha-the-singer-caught-in-the-nepokids-firestorm-article-152794948

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nepal-protests-designer-handbags-luxury-cars-the-lavish-life-of-nepals-nepo-kids-9259302?utm 

These obvious and insulting displays of the economic disparity within the nation, provoked much of Gen Z into sparking the viral “#NepoKids” campaign to mock their lavish lifestyles. The long standing hostility towards government corruption and inequality is well captured in one protest placard: “Our taxes, their luxury … We pay, you flex.” https://www.greensmithnepal.com. As a reaction, the government decided to regulate social media and immediately banned major social media platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, Messenger, Discord, and 22 others. In retaliation, thousands of Gen Z flooded into the streets on September 8, to protest against the social media ban and government corruption, resulting in 19 people killed and 100 injured. At the cost of protesters’ lives, the government quickly reversed the social media ban, and saw the Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, stepping down from his role.  

Gen Z, however, did not relent. Instead, they took social media to the next level by utilizing it as a platform for innovative political engagement. Social media influencers began to speak out against the government, encouraging Nepalis to remain strong in their voice and to continue to speak out against the government. Activist Sudan Gurung used Instagram to announce his encouragement and the creation of the Discord Channel “Youths Against Corruption.” The creation of this group allowed young Nepalis to cast their vote for their candidate for temporary Prime Minister. A gaming chat app converted into a virtual parliament by the digital natives. Over 160,000 Napalis both inside and outside of the nation joined to discuss and debate for the future of Nepal. The nomination of candidates for interim Prime Minister and a virtual poll were all held in virtual space. https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2025/09/nepal-gen-z-topple-government?lang=en https://theconversation.com/gen-z-protests-brought-about-change-in-nepal-via-the-powers-and-perils-of-social-media-265365#:~:text=Gen%20Z's%20digital%20tactics,to%20join%20the%20protest%20movement. 

The Nepalis Gen Z, armed with social media and hashtags, has effectively challenged the old longstanding corrupted political systems. Through social media, these digital natives successfully showcased the value of democracy by galvanizing the grassroot movement and reflecting popular consent. What the nation’s political future will hold is hasty to predict, but this revolutionary political engagement clearly marks a new pivotal shift in Nepal’s democracy.