A significant Gen Z-led uprising is unfolding in Nepal, with thousands of young protesters taking to the streets of Kathmandu to oppose the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. While the immediate trigger was the Oli administration’s sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube—widespread frustration stems from deeper grievances: systemic corruption, entrenched inequality, and the disproportionate privileges enjoyed by children of political elites, often dubbed “nepo kids” or “nepo babies.”
Online campaigns using hashtags like #NepoKids, #NepoBaby, and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trended on TikTok, Reddit, and other platforms, juxtaposing the luxurious lifestyles of leaders’ children with the economic hardships faced by ordinary Nepalis. The contrast resonated with a generation that sees itself excluded from opportunities and burdened by high youth unemployment, which currently hovers around 19.2% for those aged 15–29. Many young Nepalis have sought work abroad, including as mercenaries in the Ukraine-Russia war, while the nation heavily relies on remittances that contribute about a third of its GDP.
The protests erupted on Monday when demonstrators breached police barricades, marching from Maitighar Mandala to Parliament. Placards highlighted the disparity, one reading, “The leaders' children return from abroad with Gucci bags, the people's children in coffins,” underscoring the stark socioeconomic divide. Clashes with police, which involved tear gas, water cannons, and live fire, tragically left at least 16 dead and over 80 injured. The Nepalese Army has been deployed across Kathmandu, with curfews imposed to control escalating unrest.
Sociologists and analysts describe the movement as a creative “bugle call against the ruling system,” noting that Gen Z is using social media not just to communicate but as a tool for activism, accountability, and public pressure. The protests have also targeted prominent political families, including those of PM Oli, former PMs Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, highlighting perceived benefits these families gain from systemic corruption.
The social media ban has amplified the anger, as young Nepalese interpret it as an attempt to stifle dissent and suppress campaigns exposing elite privilege. Videos contrasting the lives of nepo kids with everyday struggles have fueled further outrage, with celebrities and public figures like Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, Madan Krishna Shrestha, and Hari Bansha Acharya voicing support and contributing to the movement.
Dubbed “The Final Revolution,” the leaderless uprising demands transparency, accountability, and systemic reform. The protests reflect a generational shift in Nepalese politics, where Gen Z is asserting its voice and challenging entrenched hierarchies, signaling a potentially transformative moment in the country’s post-monarchical political landscape.
