Nepal Gen Z Protests: Viral Videos and Impact

Nepal has been engulfed in significant civil unrest, driven by what some call “the most ‘unserious’ generation” — Gen Z. Demonstrators have set the parliament building ablaze and taken to the streets for days, protesting against corruption and ultimately compelling the Prime Minister to resign.

While these protests have led to notable political changes, videos showcasing Gen Z’s distinctive style of protest have gone viral online, illustrating a generation transforming activism into moments of creativity, humor, and social interaction.

From lying under an armored truck while scrolling on a phone to making TikToks with military personnel, some visuals have captured the hearts of the internet.

Here are five viral videos that defined the protest:

1. Marching towards water cannons

Visuals of a young man confidently approaching an armored convoy have gone viral, with multiple accounts sharing the clip. With hands clasped behind him and a backpack on, he casually walks as police try to soak him with water.

The video, now nearing 5 million views, is paired with the audio of another popular speech circulating online.

The audio features the Head Boy of a local school, Abiskar Raut, speaking at an annual event. He states: “If you do not raise your voices, who will? If you do not build this nation, who will? We are the fire that will burn away the darkness. We are the storm that will sweep away injustice and bring prosperity.”

2. ‘Unintentional aura farming’

While most people scroll on social media in bed, this young man chose a different setting. Calmly lying beneath a military truck, dressed in a college uniform, he scrolls on his phone as onlookers capture the peculiar scene.

The clip, titled ‘unintentional aura farming,’ has amassed over 6.2 million views and 420,000 likes. The video shows a crowd gathering around the vehicle, highlighting the stark contrast between the authorities’ tension and the boy’s calm demeanor during the protest.

3. Playing UNO and filming videos

A video compilation showcasing how young people injected humor into their activism also went viral.

This compilation includes clips of youths playing UNO, dancing in front of — and even on top of — burning buildings, and mocking military personnel by mimicking them.

The lighthearted video, which has garnered nearly 9 million views, highlights the creativity and humor with which this generation engages in civic action, earning praise globally.

4. Recovering and returning stolen items

Not all videos focused on humor. In one small district, youth actively recovered stolen goods in the aftermath of the protests.

Carrying carts full of items, they allegedly “visited every house” in Hadigaun to collect goods that had been stolen and lined the streets with them. Appliances like televisions, microwaves, and even a stovetop could be seen on the road as some gathered to look for their belongings.

5. Cleaning up the streets

“Day 1 of building the nation together”, the original poster said in the caption of the video showing young men and women taking to the streets — hands gloved and broom in hand — ready to clean up.

They could be seen collecting rubble from the streets, sweeping the roads and picking up ash as they cleaned up their streets in a heartwarming show of care and responsibility towards their nation.

“We feel extremely accountable for what happened on September 8 and 9,” the account said, thanking the local community for coming together to clean “the mess”.