why are people protesting in nepal

People in Nepal are protesting mainly due to widespread frustration with government corruption, nepotism, and poor governance. The immediate trigger was the government's ban on 26 social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube in early September 2025, which was seen as an attempt to silence dissent and suppress free speech, especially among the youth. The protest movement was predominantly led by Generation Z (young people aged roughly 13-28), who used social media to organize and voice their grievances. The protests escalated after a violent government crackdown on demonstrators, leading to clashes that caused many casualties and destruction of government buildings, including the Parliament and Supreme Court. The protesters demanded the lifting of the social media ban, as well as an end to corruption and more transparency in governance. The unrest resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the appointment of Nepal's first female interim prime minister, Sushila Karki. The protests also reflected deeper structural issues such as youth unemployment, economic hardships, and public anger over the flaunting of wealth by political leaders and their families ("Nepo Kids") in contrast to the poor economic conditions faced by ordinary Nepalis. In summary, the protests are a youth-led movement against government corruption and repression, sparked by the social media ban but rooted in long-standing issues of inequality and lack of accountability in Nepal's political system.