India, Sept. 15 -- Your phone could spark a political movement even when every app you use is blocked. At least that's what happened in Nepal recently. As social media bans swept across the country and protests roared in Kathmandu, a simple tool called Bitchat became a lifeline for thousands.

It all escalated this month when the Nepali government blocked platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, pushing Gen Z to the streets. They said that these moves were aimed at curbing unrest. But instead, as the block hit, TikTok hashtag #NepoKids exploded with anger, Discord servers became packed with debate, and Bitchat downloads soared. In the days just before the demonstrations, Bitchat, the Bluetooth-based messaging app made by Jack Dors...