Mass protests rocked Nepal this week after the government briefly blocked popular social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube. At least 21 people were killed and more than 250 injured as police opened fire on demonstrators in Kathmandu, with protesters torching homes of senior leaders and chanting “Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media.”
Although the ban was lifted within 24 hours, the unrest spiralled into a broader rejection of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s leadership, fuelled by accusations of corruption, nepotism, and police brutality. By Tuesday afternoon, Oli announced his resignation, saying he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives” and promised an inquiry into the violence.
Why TikTok was spared
Among the 26 banned applications, TikTok, the go-to social media platform for Gen Z, was conspicuously absent. According to The Associated Press, the Chinese-owned platform had formally registered in Nepal, agreeing to comply with new laws that require companies to establish a local liaison office or point of contact.
TikTok had previously faced a ban in 2023 for allegedly disrupting “social harmony” and spreading indecent content. That prohibition was lifted only after company executives pledged to adhere to Nepali laws, including the country’s 2018 ban on pornography websites.
Think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) noted that TikTok holds unique political weight in Nepal. Many young users, particularly those aged 16 to 24, used the platform to campaign for the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy — abolished in 2008. ORF argued that sparing TikTok from the latest restrictions reflected the app’s central role in political mobilisation, especially among groups dissatisfied with Oli’s government.
TikTok’s growing reach in Nepal
TikTok’s influence among Nepal’s youth has been expanding rapidly. As ORF reported, the platform is not merely a site for entertainment but also a tool for political expression, with young users mobilising around issues from corruption scandals to demands for systemic change.
With youth unemployment at 20% last year, according to World Bank data, and more than 2,000 young people leaving Nepal daily in search of work abroad, TikTok has become an outlet for frustration and activism. Its role in fuelling political dissent highlights why banning it could have intensified unrest even further.
China ties and political calculations
The decision not to block TikTok also came as Oli deepened ties with Beijing. On August 30, days before the protests, he met President Xi Jinping in Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Xi hailed Nepal as a “peace-loving neighbour” and reaffirmed China’s readiness to enhance Belt and Road cooperation, connectivity projects, and strategic trust.
Oli, in turn, reassured Beijing of Nepal’s commitment to the “one-China principle” and pledged not to allow any force to use Nepali soil to undermine Chinese interests. According to Chinese state media, he also welcomed greater collaboration in trade, technology, climate response and security under Xi’s Global Development and Global Security Initiatives.
By leaving TikTok untouched, the government unwittingly handed Gen Z a rallying tool-one that played no small role in Oli’s downfall.
Although the ban was lifted within 24 hours, the unrest spiralled into a broader rejection of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s leadership, fuelled by accusations of corruption, nepotism, and police brutality. By Tuesday afternoon, Oli announced his resignation, saying he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives” and promised an inquiry into the violence.
Why TikTok was spared
Among the 26 banned applications, TikTok, the go-to social media platform for Gen Z, was conspicuously absent. According to The Associated Press, the Chinese-owned platform had formally registered in Nepal, agreeing to comply with new laws that require companies to establish a local liaison office or point of contact.
TikTok had previously faced a ban in 2023 for allegedly disrupting “social harmony” and spreading indecent content. That prohibition was lifted only after company executives pledged to adhere to Nepali laws, including the country’s 2018 ban on pornography websites.
Think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) noted that TikTok holds unique political weight in Nepal. Many young users, particularly those aged 16 to 24, used the platform to campaign for the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy — abolished in 2008. ORF argued that sparing TikTok from the latest restrictions reflected the app’s central role in political mobilisation, especially among groups dissatisfied with Oli’s government.
TikTok’s growing reach in Nepal
TikTok’s influence among Nepal’s youth has been expanding rapidly. As ORF reported, the platform is not merely a site for entertainment but also a tool for political expression, with young users mobilising around issues from corruption scandals to demands for systemic change.
With youth unemployment at 20% last year, according to World Bank data, and more than 2,000 young people leaving Nepal daily in search of work abroad, TikTok has become an outlet for frustration and activism. Its role in fuelling political dissent highlights why banning it could have intensified unrest even further.
China ties and political calculations
The decision not to block TikTok also came as Oli deepened ties with Beijing. On August 30, days before the protests, he met President Xi Jinping in Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Xi hailed Nepal as a “peace-loving neighbour” and reaffirmed China’s readiness to enhance Belt and Road cooperation, connectivity projects, and strategic trust.
Oli, in turn, reassured Beijing of Nepal’s commitment to the “one-China principle” and pledged not to allow any force to use Nepali soil to undermine Chinese interests. According to Chinese state media, he also welcomed greater collaboration in trade, technology, climate response and security under Xi’s Global Development and Global Security Initiatives.
By leaving TikTok untouched, the government unwittingly handed Gen Z a rallying tool-one that played no small role in Oli’s downfall.
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