Nepali government was overthrown in 48 hours and I think i just witnessed the first internet native revolution a social media user from Nepal Wrote…
In what may be the world’s first internet-native revolution, the Nepali government collapsed in less than 48 hours after TikTok protests and decentralized organizing on Discord and Reddit spiraled into mass demonstrations, street violence, and ultimately the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The uprising, dubbed the Nepal Gen Z revolution, has already reshaped political discourse in South Asia and beyond.
From the Fall of the Monarchy to Digital Disillusionment
Over two decades ago, Nepalis toppled the monarchy, ushering in multiparty democracy with hopes of a brighter, more equitable future. Yet, the same leaders who once claimed to fight for the people ended up living in lavish mansions, while ordinary citizens struggled to afford daily meals.
By the late 2010s, however, everything began to change. Widespread internet access exposed government scandals in real time. Citizens could see how much faster other developing nations were advancing, and frustration mounted. The digital public sphere became the real opposition party.
The “Nepo Babies” TikTok Movement
In August 2025, the tipping point came. Nepali youth launched a viral TikTok trend called “Nepo Babies”, contrasting the glamorous lifestyles of politicians’ children with ordinary Nepalis who couldn’t afford a proper restaurant meal. Instagram and TikTok lit up with reels, memes, and exposés.
The backlash was immediate and vicious: elite children were cyberbullied nationwide, becoming living symbols of inequality.
The Social Media Ban That Sparked a Firestorm
On September 4, 2025, the Nepali government abruptly banned TikTok, Instagram, Discord, and Reddit, demanding that platforms register in Nepal and submit to government censorship.
But the move backfired. More than 20% of Nepalis live abroad, and the ban cut off communication between them and their families back home. Coupled with the growing anger around “Nepo Babies,” the timing was seen as both authoritarian and deeply out of touch.
September 8: Peaceful Protest Turns Deadly
By September 8, calls for protest had spread across every platform still accessible. Over 12,000 demonstrators gathered in Kathmandu for what began as a peaceful rally.
But by afternoon, police opened fire. More than 20 protesters were killed and 300 injured, their final moments livestreamed and shared across banned networks via VPNs. The grisly images ignited nationwide rage.
September 9: Burn Their Mansions
The very next day, protests escalated beyond imagination. Fueled by anger and coordinated through Discord and Reddit, demonstrators launched real-time “mimetic actions” across Nepal.
The day’s rallying cry “burn their mansions” spread like wildfire online. Politicians’ homes were set ablaze. Ministers were dragged into the streets, beaten, even humiliated by mobs. Police forces, demoralized and outnumbered, largely stood down.
By nightfall, Prime Minister Oli resigned and sought army protection.
The World’s First Discord Vote for a Prime Minister
But with the old guard gone, one question remained: who would lead Nepal?
Unlike past uprisings, there was no central revolutionary figure. Instead, thousands of Nepali youths gathered on Discord and Reddit, debating and polling in real time. For hours, usernames argued, meme-posted, and finally voted on who could represent the revolution.
Their choice? Sushila Karki, former Chief Justice, respected for her incorruptibility. Within days, negotiations with the army and president confirmed her as Nepal’s first female prime minister the first leader in history effectively chosen by a Discord poll.
A Glimpse Into the Network State Era
The Nepal Gen Z revolution marks more than just a political transition. It may be the first time a national government was toppled and replaced through internet-native coordination.
As one protester put it on Discord:
“The protest happened on the internet for years. The government just didn’t listen.”
The implications stretch far beyond Kathmandu. The experiment in digital democracy has shown young people worldwide what’s possible: that governments can fall, and leaders can rise, based on the viral will of the networked crowd.
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia.
It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, and India to the south, east, and west, while it is narrowly separated from Bangladesh by the Siliguri Corridor, and from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim.
Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point above mean sea level on Earth.
Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and its largest city. Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious, and multi-cultural state, with Nepali as the official language.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more