Sudan Gurung and the Gen Z Uprising: How a Social Media Ban Ignited Nepal

Nepal experienced a deadly youth-led uprising on Monday following the government’s decision to block access to 26 social media platforms. Police opened fire on protesters in Kathmandu, resulting in at least 20 deaths and over 300 injuries. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned. The army was deployed to secure roads near Parliament. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli attributed the violence to external elements, justifying the ban as regulation. The ban was later reversed. Leading the protests was Sudan Gurung, the president of the youth-run NGO Hami Nepal. Before the ban, Hami Nepal used social media to provide protest details and safety information. Gurung encouraged students to use school uniforms and books to show peaceful resistance. Gurung founded Hami Nepal after the 2015 earthquake. He was an event programmer and became an activist after experiencing personal tragedy. Gurung led a prior protest demanding transparency. He has become a key figure in the Gen Z movement, channeling their frustrations. Young protesters took to the streets, demanding the social media ban be lifted. Protests turned violent, and violence spread to other cities. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Curfews were issued. The “Nepo Kid” campaign, critical of elite privilege, gained momentum, further fueling the protests.