From VPNs to Victory: How Nepali Youth Used Technology to Overthrow Social Media Ban

The Nepalese government’s ban on numerous social media sites inadvertently ignited a powerful protest movement. Young people in Nepal turned to technology to bypass the restrictions. VPN services saw a massive increase in use, and the Bitchat application became a popular alternative. Discord servers hosted extensive discussions. The #NepoKids hashtag, which highlighted the perceived lavish lifestyles of the leaders’ families compared to the economic hardships of the average citizen, fueled public anger. These online actions combined with physical protests to pressure the government, resulting in the Prime Minister’s resignation and an interim government promising democratic elections.