At least 22 people have been killed – many of whom were still wearing college and school uniforms – in Nepal. As reported on Tuesday, the government implemented a blanket ban on 26 social media platforms, leading to youth-led free speech protests that quickly descended into a deadly stand-off with the police fuelled by deeper unrest. As the death toll mounted, the ban was rolled back and the prime minister resigned, but Kathmandu remains under curfew with troops patrolling the streets and the military waiting in the wings.  

Mainstream outlets have covered the story, but mostly off the front pages. Instead, we see the usual Israel-Gaza, Epstein and Ukraine cycles continue, amidst what is one of the deadliest reactions to free speech violations in recent years. If you want a snapshot of how far states will go to keep citizens under control, and how quickly a speech clampdown can morph into a national reckoning over corruption, then Nepal is it. 

How It Backfired & Left 22 Dead

The initial spark was bureaucratic. Social media platforms were told to register in the country and appoint compliance officers to fend off hate speech and misinformation, but the deadline was arguably made deliberately short to make sure it couldn’t be met. As a result, 26 platforms were instantly banned across the country, and crowds surged towards parliament. 

It escalated immediately, with police opting to use tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and eventually live ammunition according to Amnesty. Tallies started at 19 dead, raising to 22 according to new reports, and the ban was lifted. Was it ever about safety then, or just trying to keep everyone under control? 

In short, a government tried to mute criticism and limit communication domestically and internationally, and within hours dozens were shot, parliament smoldered, and soldiers took to the streets. 

Protests Were “Hijacked”

Gen-Z Nepalis have been identified as those leading the protests, angry at censorship and the political class. Fires spread from parliament to the supreme court and senior politicians’ homes as crowds confronted a system they deem rigged by corruption and nepotism. 

The unrest is the worst in decades, driven ultimately by corruption, job shortages and inequality. Blacking out social media platforms turned out to be the spark, but not necessarily the fuel. The youth saw this as the final straw in an increasingly tense society, and it looks like the youth finally snapped. 

It’s Not About Social Media Anymore

Even after access was restored and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, crowds deemed the U-turn cosmetic rather than any meaningful change in government strategy. The grievance had instead widened regarding the impunity of the elite, “nepo kids” and a generation isolated from opportunity. The Times of India adds Nepal to a region-wide wave of youth-driven uprisings across South Asia – including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan – each mixing economic anger with disgust at political privilege. 

There’s also a messy twist to consider. The original youth organisers that started the protests say they were “hijacked” by opportunists, fuelling the city-wide looting and arson. What was intended by some to be a peaceful demonstration, others saw as a chance to truly signal their raging dissatisfaction with the administration and country-wide class norms. 

So, Why Isn’t It Bigger News?

Countries appear to be testing different ways to keep speech under control. Nepal’s idea was clearly a total, clean-cut switch off: 

1. Mandate registration and local compliance officers with a tight deadline 
2. Deem platforms non-compliant 
3. Block them all at once for not meeting policy requirements 
4. Restore access, but keep the on/off switch intact 

If this wasn’t another move to limit free speech, demonstrations as deadly as these with a city set alight would’ve dominated the front pages. Soldiers guard the streets, there’s a seemingly endless curfew, and this powder-keg moment could well shape the country for years. So why isn’t this bigger news? 

What Followed the Bloodshed

Ministers withdrew the shutdown, Prime Minister Oli resigned, the main airport was closed, troops patrolled, and arrests mounted. India expressed sorrow and urged dialogue as news of the Nepal crisis spilled across borders – but all of it waited until after the dead toll reached well into double figures. 

The political fight is far from over. There’s now a power vacuum at the top, according to on-the-ground news sources, as youthful politicians outside the traditional parties suddenly look like appetising options for the country’s youth who demand change. Only time will tell whether that energy leads to reform or more chaos. 

Why It Matters Far Beyond Nepal

The ability and willingness by a government to ban social media platforms and control speech within its borders, under the guise of policy compliance, is a warning to all. A simple registration law was easy to implement, and paired with a strict, short deadline, now makes the true motive behind the regulation seem clear.  

The lack of mainstream prioritisation of this story is also alarming. Networks can be silenced in an instant, and even with bodies in the streets, a prime minister ousted, and an army controlling a country, it can still sit beneath a pile of cyclical stories – then what else is going unnoticed? 

Final Thought

Mainstream media is covering this story, but it’s not getting the attention it deserves in terms of the weight it carries for the rest of the world. Maybe it’s deliberate, or maybe it’s deemed far enough away to not care. However you frame it, we can now add Nepal to a list of countries where enormous uprising has been sparked by an attempt to kill free speech.  

Join the Conversation

Should these stories get better traction internationally? Why do you think they don’t? Do you think this has a greater impact on the rest of the world, or is isolated to a small Himalayan nation? Share your thoughts below. 

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g.calder

I’m George Calder — a lifelong truth-seeker, data enthusiast, and unapologetic question-asker. I’ve spent the better part of two decades digging through documents, decoding statistics, and challenging narratives that don’t hold up under scrutiny. My writing isn’t about opinion — it’s about evidence, logic, and clarity. If it can’t be backed up, it doesn’t belong in the story. Before joining Expose News, I worked in academic research and policy analysis, which taught me one thing: the truth is rarely loud, but it’s always there — if you know where to look. I write because the public deserves more than headlines. You deserve context, transparency, and the freedom to think critically. Whether I’m unpacking a government report, analysing medical data, or exposing media bias, my goal is simple: cut through the noise and deliver the facts. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me hiking, reading obscure history books, or experimenting with recipes that never quite turn out right.

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