Tens of thousands of young Nepalis poured into Kathmandu’s streets this week after the government briefly blocked major social platforms, triggering anger over long-running corruption and elite privilege. According to reports, security forces fired on crowds, leaving at least 19 people dead and prompting the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

Bitchat Downloads Surge As Users Seek Alternatives

According to download data cited by technology outlets, more than 48,000 Nepalis installed Block CEO Jack Dorsey’s peer-to-peer messaging app, Bitchat , during the unrest as people looked for ways to communicate outside mainstream networks.

Reports suggest the app’s decentralized, Bluetooth-based features made it attractive when access to channels like Facebook and X was restricted.

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