Nepal social media ban: Flightradar gives an update on Kathmandu airport

Flightradar

has shared an update on reports claiming closure of Kathmandu airport amidst the ongoing GenZ-led protest. Sharing a post on microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the flight tracking platform said that it has not found any official information on the airport's status. Nepal is seeing a wave of protests in response to the government's country wide ban on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms. The protestors claimed the government’s actions as authoritarian and corrupt, forcing it to reverse the social media blackout. Amidst the protest, several social media posts claimed that the airport has been closed. “Several flights to Kathmandu are holding south of Kathmandu. Social media posts claim the airport has been closed,” Flightrada’s post said, adding “but we have not found any official information on the airport's status.”

Why GenZs are protesting in Nepal

Nepal is seeing its biggest protests in recent history, fueled not only by anger over new social media restrictions but also by frustration with corruption, a weak economy, and rising inequality, as reports suggest. Many citizens, according to reports, believe the government has failed to address these problems.

On Monday, demonstrations in the capital city, Kathmandu, turned violent after security forces cracked down on protesters, most of them young people. Witnesses said police used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the crowds. Local media reported that at least 400 people were injured, and hospitals struggled to handle the surge of patients.Nepal’s ongoing protests have been embraced by young people, who are calling the movement a “Gen Z protest” to highlight their role. A government minister, Prithvi Subba Gurung, admitted this in a statement and said the social media ban would be lifted “to address the demands raised by Gen Z.”Experts say the youth-led movement has been inspired by protests in Indonesia and Bangladesh. The unrest has drawn global attention, with the United Nations calling for a “prompt and transparent investigation” into the use of force. Embassies of the US and UK also issued a joint statement backing the right to free speech and peaceful assembly.