KATHMANDU: The KP Oli-led government, which recently enforced a controversial ban on multiple social media platforms, now finds itself confronted by a rising tide of youth-led dissent.
The Gen Z generation, fueled by frustration and empowered by platforms like TikTok, is launching a spontaneous protest movement beginning today (Monday) — aimed directly at political corruption and the unchecked privileges enjoyed by the children of the ruling elite.
Despite the government’s shutdown of 26 platforms, including Facebook, online resistance continues to flourish. TikTok, in particular, has become a central space for organizing and amplifying voices.
A growing “Nepo Baby” trend is sweeping the platform, with young people calling out the extravagant lifestyles of political leaders’ children. Thousands of videos criticize everything from their designer clothes to their foreign education and luxury spending. These portrayals sharply contrast with the daily struggles faced by ordinary citizens, especially the youth.
Frustration has been pouring out in videos and captions across platforms. Statements like “I work day and night to pay taxes for the luxurious lives of leaders’ children” and “My taxes are for national development, not for Gucci bags” reflect the sentiment of a generation fed up with inequality.
One viral slogan — “The leaders’ children return from abroad with Gucci bags, the people’s children in coffins” — has become a defining message of the movement.
The Gen Z generation is questioning how, in a country sustained by the remittances of its working class abroad, the political elite continues to live in luxury.
While politicians’ children travel in and out of the country freely, many young Nepalis struggle with access to the most basic necessities. Mental health medication like citalopram remains unavailable to many. In rural areas, children’s safety and education are not guaranteed.
Food security, healthcare, and opportunities remain scarce. In contrast, the children of political leaders live like royalty — a lifestyle Gen Z sees as being built on taxpayers’ money and corruption.
The protesters argue that it is the labor and sacrifice of the people’s children — especially migrant workers — that keeps Nepal’s economy alive, while the children of leaders enjoy privilege without accountability. Many believe the country is being pushed deeper into debt to fund this imbalance.
As the movement spreads online through TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram, organizers have announced a street protest in Kathmandu at 9 a.m. on Monday, with calls for participation across the country.
The protest is being described as leaderless and spontaneous — a reflection of growing grassroots anger rather than any political party’s agenda.
With growing calls for accountability and transparency, government officials have reportedly begun conducting internal security assessments. The scale of the protest remains to be seen, but what began as a digital outcry is quickly transforming into one of the most vocal and organized youth-led movements in recent years.
Meanwhile, criticism of political families — especially their children — continues to gain momentum online. For Gen Z, these heirs are not just individuals; they are the faces of a broken system, and this generation seems more ready than ever to challenge it.
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