• Digital Natives: Nepali Gen Z is highly connected, with nearly 90% of Nepal's 30 million people using the internet. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Viber are central to their identity, used for self-expression, activism, and entrepreneurship. They create viral content, challenge stereotypes, and advocate for issues like mental health, gender equality, and sustainability.
• Blending Tradition and Modernity: Gen Z in Nepal balances traditional values with global trends, popularizing streetwear, K-pop culture, and fusion music while embracing digital-first lifestyles like freelancing and online businesses. They prioritize independence, creativity, and flexible career paths over conventional jobs.
• Challenges: They face generational conflicts over career choices and modern lifestyles, mental health pressures from social media comparison, and limited job opportunities in a country with a 20.8% youth unemployment rate (2024, World Bank). Many young Nepalis migrate abroad for work, with over 741,000 leaving in 2023-24, often to Gulf countries or India.

Recent Protests (September 2025)

• Gen Z Protests: In early September 2025, Nepal saw unprecedented youth-led protests, primarily driven by Gen Z, sparked by a government ban on 26 social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram) for failing to register locally. The ban, imposed on September 4, was seen as an attempt to suppress dissent and criticism of government corruption.
• Escalation and Violence: The protests began peacefully on September 8 in Kathmandu's Maitighar area but turned violent after police used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, killing at least 22 protesters and injuring over 1,000. Demonstrators, many in school or college uniforms, breached parliament, set fire to government buildings (including Singha Durbar and the Supreme Court), and attacked politicians' homes.
• Anti-Corruption Movement: Beyond the social media ban, the protests reflected deep frustration with corruption, nepotism, and economic inequality. The "Nepo Kids" campaign on platforms like TikTok highlighted the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children in a country where per capita income is $1,400 annually. Protesters demanded accountability and an end to entrenched political elites.
• Political Fallout: The unrest led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on September 9, along with the Home Minister and Communications Minister. President Ram Chandra Paudel called for talks with the leaderless Gen Z movement, but no clear resolution has emerged. The army was deployed to enforce curfews, and Kathmandu's airport was briefly shut.
• Gen Z's Demands: Protesters seek a transparent, corruption-free government with more youth representation. They distanced themselves from the violence, blaming "opportunists" for hijacking their movement.

Broader Context

• Economic Struggles: Nepal's economy relies heavily on remittances (33% of GDP), but youth unemployment and a lack of domestic opportunities fuel discontent. Corruption scandals, like the $71 million Pokhara airport embezzlement, deepen resentment.
• Political Instability: Since Nepal became a republic in 2008, it has had 14 governments, none completing a full term. Gen Z's distrust of political parties is evident in their leaderless, decentralized protests.
• Regional Influence: The protests draw inspiration from youth-led movements in Bangladesh (2024) and Sri Lanka (2022), where Gen Z played a key role in challenging governments.

As of September 11, 2025, Kathmandu remains tense with army patrols and curfews. The social media ban has been lifted, but protests continue, driven by demands for systemic change. Gen Z's role as a vocal, digitally savvy force suggests they will continue shaping Nepal's future, though the path forward remains uncertain with calls for an interim government and youth-inclusive leadership.