An Investigation Into Why The Nepalese Government Shut Down Social media Which led to Gen Z Protests

Around April 2024, a Sidhakura.com published an audiovisual series titled “Sting operation of meetings including SC justice for dismissing over 400 corruption cases.”

This publication accused Supreme Court justices, top media executives, and senior lawyers of colluding in corruption.

key figures named in the piece denied any involvement.

Then the Supreme Court identified the publication as an attempt to defame the judiciary and obstruct justice.

A contempt case was launched by the Supreme Court’s deputy registrar, Govinda Prasad Ghimire, under constitutional and judicial provisions that prevent actions obstructing justice.

The Court then ordered removal of the content and directed the police to conduct a forensic technical analysis within 15 days.

Also Publisher of the content Yubraj Kandel and Executive Editor Nabin Dhungana received 3-month jail terms each, plus fines of Rs 5,000. However, if they issued a formal apology and corrigendum, it could be reduced to 7 days.

Raj Kumar Timilsina, the publisher who created the fake audio, received a 6 (six) Months jail sentence.

The full bench ruling by nine judges reaffirmed the need for media and social platforms to register and operate under oversight, laying groundwork for later Supreme Court orders mandating registration.

The Sidhakura.com publication had no proven truth and maybe it was a fabricated story designed (at least in the Court’s view) to scandalize the judiciary.

However, it resonated with the public because judicial corruption has been a real issue in Nepal, so people thought it could be true. That tension is partly why the case shook the country and led to stricter regulation of digital media.

Due to this incident Nepal’s Supreme Court directed the government to regulate social media platforms more strictly.

The court said that platforms must have a local liaison office, grievance redressal officers, and compliance officers in Nepal.

The idea was to give Nepali citizens a direct channel to report abuse, cybercrime, or misinformation instead of relying on foreign offices.

Now Instead of the government to draft clear guidelines, negotiating with platforms, or setting deadlines, the Cabinet jumped straight to a blanket ban on 26 apps.

Major global platforms eg Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and others has failed to comply, so the government blocked access to them.

TikTok and Viber were among the few platforms that weren’t banned, and they quickly became the main tools for protesters to organize and rall young people.

The government attempt to block social media backfired and cost a stir especially among younger generations popularly know as Gen z. Who believes the platforms are not just for entertainment but for educational purposes and to even end a living.

What started as outrage over the ban soon spiraled. Protests grew large, clashes turned violent, and the toil was devastating: at least nineteen (19) people lost their lives, and hundreds (100's) more were injured. (According to verified reports)

Facing mounting pressure, the Government was forced to lift the ban. But the damage was done. The public outrage was so strong that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli eventually stepped down, with officials promising investigations, compensation for victims’ families, and medical support for the wounded.

Yet, even after Oli’s resignation and the restoration of social media, the streets remain filled with protesters. In fact, the unrest has escalated to the point where the army moved in to close and occupy Tribhuvan International Airport.

At this stage, it’s clear the demonstrations are no longer just about social media. People are taking aim at deeper, long-standing frustrations corruption, nepotism, elitism, and the economic struggles that have left many young Nepalis feeling locked out of opportunities.