Marrakech – Plumes of smoke lingered above Kathmandu this week as soldiers enforced a curfew following nights of violent clashes. 

Rumors swirled of talks between the army, the president, and representatives of the largely leaderless youth movement, but no formal announcement has been made.

A movement born online

The unrest started in early September when young Nepalis, angered by the extravagant posts of so-called “Nepo Kids” flaunting luxury handbags and foreign vacations, organized peaceful protests. 

Their frustration reflected a deeper crisis: soaring youth unemployment and a widening gap between elites and ordinary citizens.

“The buildup of the frustration was what led to this movement,” protester Sareesha Shrestha told CNN, describing the government’s ban on major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, as the “last straw.”

Social media had been a lifeline for young people in Nepal, many of whom rely on it to connect with relatives working abroad. 

“Social media is the only platform where we can talk and share and follow the global media,” said Pramin, a filmmaker. 

“Most of our friends, our families, our brothers, are outside the country so that was the medium of communication.”

Escalation and violence

On September 9, tens of thousands poured onto the streets of Kathmandu, torching symbols of the state and clashing with security forces. 

At least 30 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured, according to Nepal’s Health Ministry.

Government forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition in some areas, according to Reuters. 

The violence marked the worst street unrest in the Himalayan nation in over a decade.

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned under mounting pressure, and parliament was dissolved. 

A caretaker government led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female prime minister, has been appointed to oversee new elections, scheduled for March 5, 2026, according to the Associated Press.

A generation in revolt

The protests reflect the frustrations of a generation facing bleak economic prospects. 

Youth unemployment stood at 20.8% in 2024, according to the World Bank. 

With limited opportunities at home, many young Nepalis seek work abroad, where remittances now make up more than a third of the country’s GDP.

Anger at systemic corruption, nepotism, and inequality fueled the street demonstrations. Videos of political elites’ children boasting of wealth on social media became viral symbols of this disparity.

From fury to memes

Even as the violence subsided, protest videos, chants, and clashes have taken on a second life online. 

Clips from the demonstrations are now circulating on TikTok, Instagram, and X, not only as documentation but also remixed into satirical memes, ironic reels, and trending sounds.

Hashtags like #NepoKids and #NepoBabiesNepal continue to trend, with users juxtaposing politicians’ children in designer clothes against scenes of protest and hardship. 

What began as outrage has also become part of the internet’s humor machine, signaling both the anger and the digital-savvy creativity of Nepal’s Gen Z movement.