Recently, Nepal has witnessed a historic political upheaval. Led by Gen Z protesters, thousands of people voted for their new prime minister on Discord, a chat and gaming website. This marks a novel form of political engagement, but is it too novel?
The first spark was an incident on September 6, 2025. A provincial minister’s vehicle hit a small, eleven-year-old girl, and the minister fled without helping. Then Prime Minister, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, had a dismissive response to the incident, which fueled the stokes of the flame in the public. Millennials and Gen. Z, who make up a large portion of the public, had grown increasingly frustrated with the stagnant economy and high youth unemployment, which peaked at over 20 percent for the ages of 15 to 24. These young, frustrated Nepalese connected online, creating their tribes, discussing and making known relevant issues such as corruption scandals involving high-profile officials, and the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms.
Human nature will always be to fight for freedom and do exactly what you are told not to do. So, many young activists started using Discord, one of the platforms that was not banned. The Discord server “Youths Against Corruption” became the center for the movement, involving coordination for protests, and later, the unexpected voting for the prime minister. One of the main leaders in this movement was political activist Sudan Gurung, who urged peaceful protest among youth. This usage of Discord symbolizes what may be the new form of democracy in today’s day and age: online, where people bypass traditional, long-lasting structures to assert voices that may not have been heard earlier.
The fire kept slowly burning inside their hearts until September 8, when it finally exploded. Thousands of young protesters rushed to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, to speak their minds. One of the incidents on social media that fueled this protest was a photograph of Saugat Thapa, who was with an enormous pile of luxury goods. These initially peaceful protests soon turned violent after security forces unnecessarily used tear gas and live ammunition, wounding many and leaving some dead. In the end, 72 people died.
Much of this fueled hatred is aimed towards so-called “nepo babies,” defined by many as children of highly influential and well-connected people, who benefit from their wealth. However, these “nepo babies” symbolize a deeper corruption that people have been fighting against all throughout Asia for years. Over the past few years, young South Asians have been fighting against corruption in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, which has inspired some to rise to protest in Nepal.
Saugat Thapa himself said that it was an “unfair misinterpretation” that his family is corrupt. However, even if he himself is right, you can see the effects of corruption when looking at the high levels of poverty in Nepal. Multiple studies have shown that high levels of corruption have a direct correlation to reducing economic growth (causing the stagnant economy in Nepal), and deepening inequality.
Access to technology has also united protestors from all across Asia. Days before the protest, when the government banned 26 social media platforms, claiming it was to shut down fake news and hate speech, many youth rushed to use AI platforms to create social media clips about nepo babies and corruption. Within one day, one of these videos had over one hundred thousand views, reshared by many influencers all across the world. One flag from a popular anime, One Piece, was used in protests in Nepal. This usage was originally popularized by Indonesian youth, and it is a symbol of fighting for freedom.
These protests, which may just seem like something ironic and behind the scenes, have led to many consequences in the real world. Buildings have been burnt down, and people, both the protesters and those being protested against, have been killed. While officials condemn the violence, naming it as borderline terrorism, the masses argue it is a necessary evil for Nepal to reform for the better.
This begs the question: Is politics becoming too modern? The answer is complex and depends on the perspective. On one hand, it represents a powerful push against corruption and inequality by using new tools like Discord to organize themselves and even vote for leadership, which may signal a more inclusive form of democracy. However, rapid digitization may be too sudden a change, leading to impulsivity and instability. If the energy of the fired-up youth is used correctly, it could lead to a new age in Nepal, one without corruption and one with a booming economy. However, there always needs to be a balance between this and innovation and respect. The world will be watching as Nepal shapes its country’s future, and other countries may or may not follow suit.
