🚨 Social media just helped topple a government.
What happened in Kathmandu is being called history’s first social media insurrection.
Here’s the story — and why some like @NoahCRothman are asking if it could happen here. 🧵
What happened in Kathmandu is being called history’s first social media insurrection.
Here’s the story — and why some like @NoahCRothman are asking if it could happen here. 🧵
It began with a ban.
Nepal began shutting down dozens of social media platforms in the country, aiming for deals giving the gov’t control of content, like the government had brokered with TikTok in 2023.
Nepal began shutting down dozens of social media platforms in the country, aiming for deals giving the gov’t control of content, like the government had brokered with TikTok in 2023.
Ironically, TikTok became the only channel protesters could use to mobilize.
And they did.
Anger spread not just about the bans but about deep-seated corruption.
And they did.
Anger spread not just about the bans but about deep-seated corruption.
A viral trend accused politicians’ “Nepo Kids” of flaunting luxury lifestyles “funded by corruption” while ordinary citizens were forced to work abroad just to barely make ends meet.
This turned a status anxiety among Gen Zers into a rage at the country’s elite.
This turned a status anxiety among Gen Zers into a rage at the country’s elite.
https://x.com/Incognito_qfs/status/1965010971291787321/video/1
Protests exploded: crowds in the streets, homes of top leaders set on fire, police opening fire on demonstrators.
The Result? Hundreds injured, at least 19 killed.
Nepal’s prime minister resigned and the social media ban was reversed.
The Result? Hundreds injured, at least 19 killed.
Nepal’s prime minister resigned and the social media ban was reversed.
So, could it happen here?
The U.S. and Nepal are very different, thanks to our Constitution. So, maybe that’s not exactly the right question.
If the question is, can foreign assets like TikTok be wielded as weapons against their host countries, the answer is clearly “yes.”
The U.S. and Nepal are very different, thanks to our Constitution. So, maybe that’s not exactly the right question.
If the question is, can foreign assets like TikTok be wielded as weapons against their host countries, the answer is clearly “yes.”
That’s the lesson we can take away from what happened in Kathmandu and if we can see it, you best believe our adversaries can see it too. 🔚
nationalreview.com/corner/can-wha…
nationalreview.com/corner/can-wha…
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