In September 2025, Nepalese youth mobilized after the government moved to ban foreign social media amid the viral #nepokids campaign exposing political nepotism. Security forces used live ammunition on September 8, killing at least 19 people and triggering wider uprisings. A roughly 100,000‑person Discord chat helped coalesce support for former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki, whom the military appointed transitional prime minister. Nationwide elections are scheduled for March 2026, and activists are pressing for a fair, independent interim process.
How a Social Media Ban Sparked a Discord‑Organized Uprising That Brought Sushila Karki To Power
Photo: Nepali student protesters clash with police near the Federal Parliament building in Kathmandu; Dipesh Darshandhari/Alamy Live News
In September 2025, a government move to block several foreign social media platforms set off mass protests in Kathmandu that culminated in an unprecedented, digitally coordinated uprising. Young activists — many organizing on the chat platform Discord — helped propel former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki into the role of transitional prime minister after the government collapsed and the military assumed control.
Background
Critics said the government's summertime regulations and subsequent attempt to ban foreign platforms were a pretext to silence a viral hashtag, #nepokids, which exposed nepotism and the lavish lifestyles of politicians' families. Nepal, which transitioned from a monarchy to a republic in 2008, remains one of Asia's poorest countries and has long struggled with political corruption — grievances that fed the protests.
The Protests
Protests erupted in Kathmandu on September 8, 2025. What began as a largely peaceful demonstration — with students and a broad cross-section of citizens participating — turned deadly when security forces used live ammunition. At least 19 people were killed on the first day, a surge of violence that enraged crowds and led to the storming of government offices and politicians' homes.
Online Organizing And Discord
As the unrest escalated, activists moved quickly online. A roughly 100,000‑person Discord chat became a focal point for coordination and debate about next steps. Although many protesters on the streets felt the movement represented a much broader coalition, Discord offered a rapid, if imperfect, way to vet and coalesce behind potential transitional leaders.
"A lot of people were saying that they didn't understand what a referendum is, what an ordinance is, what constitutional values are, and now these young people are trying to learn," said Samana Lawaki of the Indigenous Gen‑Z Collective, describing the movement's steep learning curve in political literacy.
The Transition
After former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned and the military took control, activists proposed Sushila Karki — a former chief justice who had voiced support for the protests — as a transitional leader. The army appointed Karki to lead an interim government that will remain in place until nationwide elections scheduled for March 2026.
Debate Over Representation
The speed and mechanics of the Discord‑based organizing drew scrutiny. Critics argued the process could not fully represent the diversity of protesters on the streets; some accused organizers of self-promotion. Still, many youth groups moved rapidly to assert independent organization to prevent the revolution from being co‑opted by remnants of the old political class.
What Comes Next
The interim government faces a critical test: to prepare impartial, transparent elections and preserve the movement's gains. Activists warn that a weak or partisan transitional administration could squander the momentum of a generation that has rapidly acquired political literacy and is determined to keep the revolution independent and accountable.
Reporting includes eyewitness accounts from activists and participants in the protests and online organizing. Names quoted include Samana Lawaki and Zak Aldridge, among others.
