TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - This September, Nepal entered a period of unrest, driven by a generation unwilling to stay silent. The Gen Z Protest erupted in response to the flashy lifestyles of political elites, while the general population continues to struggle to make ends meet.
Public outrage deepened after the government imposed a sweeping social media ban, blocking over 26 major platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube. The move was widely seen as an attempt to stifle free expression and dissent.
Tensions escalated on Monday, September 8, when mass protests erupted in Kathmandu. As reported by TIME and France24, security forces opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 protesters and leaving hundreds more injured. This incident marked one of the deadliest crackdowns in the country's recent history.
The ban, though it was lifted on September 9, had already profoundly impacted how citizens communicate. In the days leading up to the protests, many Nepalese had resorted to virtual private network (VPN) services to bypass the government's blockades. The U.S.-based group chat app Discord also emerged as a vital tool for organizing and staying connected.
A Discord server, with over 145,000 members, became a dedicated forum for debating Nepal's power transition. For that matter, many users have been rallying behind 73-year-old former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as a potential interim leader.
With fears of a wider internet crackdown still looming, Nepalese citizens have recently begun adopting the Bluetooth-based messaging app Bitchat. On Monday, September 8, alone, downloads of the app surged to 48,781, according to Cointelegraph.
Launched in July by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat runs on a fully decentralized network. It requires no central servers, user accounts, email addresses, phone numbers, or external infrastructure, making it nearly impossible for authorities to shut down or censor.
This is not the first time Nepal's government has attempted to restrict digital platforms. According to AP News, the government had previously imposed a nine-month ban on TikTok in 2023, accusing the platform of "disrupting social harmony, goodwill, and diffusing indecent materials." The ban was lifted in 2024 after TikTok pledged to comply with local laws.