Nepal has lifted the social media ban after the eruption of deadly anti-corruption protests that led to the death of at least 19 people during police, protesters clash.
In the weeks before the ban, the lavish lifestyles of politicians children surfaced on social media and triggered mass anti-corruption sentiment online.
However, protest erupted when the government moved to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, with thousands of young people storming parliament in the capital Kathmandu on Monday, spilling to several districts which are now under a curfew.
A government minister said they lifted the ban after an emergency meeting late on Monday night to “address the demands of Gen Z”.
The government said it imposed the ban to tackle fake news, hate speech and online fraud, but the young protesters alleged government corruption and authoritarian.
“Rather than [the] social media ban, I think everyone’s focus is on corruption,” a protesters said , adding: “We want our country back. We came to stop corruption.”
The protest was triggered by the ban, but political instability, corruption, slow economic development and youth unemployment had been the main cause of mass dissatisfaction in the country.
