Summary
- Nepal’s September 2025 social media ban triggered mass Gen Z protests that toppled the government and left dozens dead.
- With platforms offline, Discord became the unexpected “Parliament of Nepal,” hosting over 100,000 members debating leadership and coordination in real time.
- The digital assembly consolidated support behind former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who was later appointed interim prime minister.
- The episode mirrored core promises of DAOs, raising questions of enforcement, accessibility, and design that experts say remain central to digital governance.
Discord became Nepal’s digital parliament as Gen Z organized protests, echoing the vision that has driven DAOs since inception.
Table of Contents
The day Kathmandu lost patience
In September 2025, Nepal was thrust into one of its most turbulent periods in recent memory. The trigger came on Sep. 4 when the government abruptly banned major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, X, and others.
Officials framed the decision as enforcement of new regulations, but for millions of Gen Z Nepalis, it felt like an attack on their ability to speak, organize, and share information.
The anger was especially sharp among younger citizens who had long relied on these networks to build community in a political system long seen as corrupt and unaccountable.
On Sep. 8 the frustration erupted. Thousands of mostly young protesters filled the streets of Kathmandu, converging on symbolic gathering points such as Maitighar Mandala and New Baneshwor.
Their chants demanded transparency, accountability, and the restoration of online freedoms. Security forces responded with escalating force using tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and eventually live ammunition.
At least 19 people were dead by the end of the day. Curfews were imposed, yet demonstrations spread to other cities, showing how deep the disco
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Author: Ankish Jain
