Tech-Enabled Resistance: How Nepali Youth Defied a Social Media Ban

When the Nepali government blocked access to 26 digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, citing registration violations, a wave of protests erupted. The youth viewed the ban as an infringement on their freedom of expression. This sparked a surge in demand for VPN services, skyrocketing by approximately 6,000 percent, while downloads of the Bitchat messaging app also increased dramatically. These tech-savvy strategies, coupled with online organization on platforms like Discord, transformed online outrage into a powerful national movement.