Lost Connection: How a Social Media Ban Severed Nepal’s Social Contract

The government of Nepal’s decision to ban social media was more than just a technological restriction; it was the moment it severed the last threads of its social contract with a huge portion of its population. The violent aftermath represents the public’s response to this ultimate act of disconnection and bad faith.
A core tenet of the social contract is that the state provides opportunity and justice in exchange for public order. Nepal’s government had been failing on its end of the bargain for years. With a 20% youth unemployment rate, it was failing to provide opportunity. With rampant corruption and nepotism, it was failing to provide justice.
The public’s frustration with these failures was palpable. A deep sense of betrayal had taken hold, fueled by the stark inequality that saw politicians thrive while citizens struggled. The government was already seen as illegitimate by many, but social media offered a space—however chaotic—for people to voice this frustration and feel a sense of connection and community.
By banning this last outlet, the government signaled its complete unwillingness to listen. It was an act of pure, top-down control that effectively told the people their voices did not matter. This final severance of the social contract left the public with few perceived options beyond open revolt, leading to the tragic and violent breakdown of civic order.