How Social Media Was Flooded With False News After Nepal’s Gen Z Protests

When Nepal’s Gen Z protests erupted in early September, they were sparked by anger over a social media ban and deepening frustration with corruption. But what began as peaceful demonstrations quickly spiraled into arson and looting of government buildings and private property. The violence left more than 72 people dead, including 21 mostly young protesters on the first day, three police officers and many others trapped in buildings set ablaze by mobs.

The government’s decision to block Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Instagram and other platforms had already created resentment. On TikTok, young people began the hashtag-driven campaign (“nepokids” and “nepobabies”), posting videos contrasting the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children with the daily struggles of ordinary citizens. Within days, the online protest spilled into Kathmandu’s streets, as thousands rose against corruption, inequality and digital repression.

Alongside the protests, a torrent of false and misleading claims spread across TikTok, X, and Facebook. Rumors of politicians fleeing, temples being vandalized and protesters taking revenge flooded social media feeds. Some originated with Nepali users, but many gained wider reach after being amplified by Indian media outlets and social media users and influencers.

One widely circulated content claimed that Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, had died after protesters set fire to their Kathmandu home. Indian media repeated the story, but Nepal Fact Check debunked it, quoting hospital sources who confirmed she was in critical condition. On September 18, Nepal Khabar reported she was recovering from burn injuries.

Another viral video showed a naked man fleeing through the streets, alleged to be various politicians, including Bishnu Poudel, Mahesh Basnet and Gagan Thapa. A fact-check by Newschecker revealed the footage actually showed police officers running for their lives after protesters threatened them. Three officers died in clashes that day.

Religious sites also became targets of rumor. A TikTok video alleging protesters had vandalized the Pashupatinath temple triggered outrage online. Using a tool developed by Bellingcat, an open source investigative outlet, Nepal Fact Check found that the video was uploaded two months earlier. “Though this turned out to be false, the damage could have been huge because this is related to people’s faith,” said Santosh Sigdel, a digital rights activist.

The most disturbing claim came from a US-based Nepali YouTuber, who claimed police had detained 32 children inside parliament. The narrative snowballed into a more sinister rumor — that the children had been killed in custody. Although Tech Pana fact-checked the report as false, panic spread among protesters and their families.

Due to proximity between Nepal and India, with both countries as Hindu majority and sharing an open border, misinformation has often crossed over. During the protests, Indian television channels and social media users amplified several false claims, portraying the protest as pro-monarchist.

One post on X claimed protesters had carried Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s photo during the protests. Boom Live traced the image to a pro-monarchy rally in Kathmandu in March 2025. A video circulated with captions claiming Nepalis were supporting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was in fact footage of an Independence Day rally in Sikkim, according to Alt News, an Indian fact-checking outlet. Alt News also debunked claims that KP Sharma Oli was the only Nepali prime minister never to visit India, citing his official trips in 2016 and 2018.

This cross-border dynamic is not new. In April 2023, Nepal Check debunked a viral video claiming Adityanath had advocated for the return of monarchy at a Hindu conference in Nepal that year. The clip was from another event in Kathmandu in October 2016.

Sigdel, the executive director of Digital Rights Nepal, said the state failed in its task to provide accurate and timely information, which created an information vacuum. “This vacuum fueled speculation, rumors and conspiracy theories. The government’s crisis communication completely collapsed, creating a free-for-all information environment that eroded public trust,” he said. “People were left wondering whom to believe and what was true.”

On September 9, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned as mobs torched government offices and politicians’ homes. Meanwhile, the state was conspicuously absent. Ordinary people and content creators with smartphones were at the forefront, actively documenting the protests. They filmed vandalism and its aftermath, often posting in real time or livestreaming the mayhem. “They generated a flood of videos, some of which provoked further violence,” Sigdel said.

Fact-checking outlets in Nepal and India scrambled to verify viral content. They found recurring patterns: old footage resurfaced with new captions, short video clips, with blurry images, circulated without context and exaggerated rumors creating panic and confusion.

For example, claims that skeletons of dozens of people were discovered at Bhatbhateni supermarket, a major chain destroyed and looted during the protest, were exaggerated. A fact-check by Nepal Factcheck, quoting police officers and news reports, found six charred bodies, not dozens.

Experts say, the protests showed how vulnerable Nepal’s digital information ecosystem was. The social media ban pushed users onto VPNs, where they entered fragmented echo chambers that allowed misinformation to spread unchecked. Nepali users amplified rumors out of anger and fear, while Indian media and politicians gave them religious twist.

Sigdel also questioned whether social media platforms including X, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram enforced their own moderation policies. “The sheer volume of provocative and problematic content circulating online could have been overwhelming,” he said. “If they did act, it’s unclear to what extent, especially given the fact that most content is in Nepali language.”

Traditional media, meanwhile, struggled to verify information quickly, though some outlets did embrace fact-checking. Sigdel suggested short-term solutions such as a database of problematic content. “Those working in digital rights and misinformation must create a repository of content requiring further verification and investigation. I think it will minimize the damage,” he said.