How angry Gen Z kids sparked Asia's deadliest protest this year

A filepic of a demonstrator waving a flag as he stands atop a vehicle near the entrance of the Parliament during a protest against corruption and government’s decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal on Sept 8, 2025. Using VPNs to circumvent official bans on Instagram, Reddit and Discord, hordes of young demonstrators – some still in school uniforms – took to the streets with a range of grievances, including unemployment and corruption. — Reuters

When Nepal’s government abruptly banned more than two dozen social media sites earlier this month, Rakshya Bam and thousands of her "Gen Z” compatriots sprang into action. 

Using VPNs to circumvent official bans on Instagram, Reddit and Discord, hordes of young demonstrators – some still in school uniforms – took to the streets with a range of grievances, including unemployment and corruption. Special contempt was reserved for "Nepo Kids”, the children of elites who flaunted their wealth online while more than 20% of Nepalis live in poverty.