Social Transformation and the Gen Z Movement in Nepal: Digital Activism and Political Renewal

Abstract

The article addresses the socio-political change in Nepal triggered by Gen Z, particularly the 2025 revolt and its impact on the 2026 general elections. The research’s main purpose is to reveal the ways in which post-conflict Gen Z use social media to challenge existing nepotism, corruption, and gerontocracy, improve the state’s institutionalization and responsiveness to the public, and initiate a shift from a party-based to a values-based political system. The article raises a few important questions about events in Nepal over the last couple of years. The first is about which social media features the Nepalese Gen Z used to initiate political change. The second is what short and long-term effects the social media ban in 2025 had on the movement. To answer them, a qualitative study was undertaken that used data from the modern literature, media reports, and interviews with participants to identify the steps Gen Z took to organize their movement and trace its development from digital to real-world action. The article, therefore, discusses the process of transition from an inwardly focused anti-establishment and anti-graft campaign to nationwide protests calling for specific policy changes and greater governmental transparency, thus highlighting the role of the Gen Z movement in empowering young people in Nepal and promoting participatory politics that resulted in the election of the youngest-ever prime minister in 2026. Overall, the article suggests that, due to its innovative, tech-savvy approach to engaging in political processes, the Gen Z movement led by young people has the potential to make Nepal more representative and accountable, and to create a sustainable shift towards a transparent and responsive political system.