Quick Takeaways
- Almost 49,000 Nepalis downloaded Bitchat in a single day
- It works without internet, perfect when the web is shut down
- Protesters used Bitchat to stay connected when Facebook and TikTok vanished
When Everything Went Dark, Bitchat Was the Light
Imagine a dawn discovery that your favorite social media sites to share your life and stay in touch with friends have been completely blocked by Tiktok all. Not a warning, no explanation. It’s just gone.
That’s what happened in Nepal, right when protests were heating up. You could say they were anxious. Disturbed. However, they were determined. They chose to use another app to stay connected. They opted for Bitchat.
And overnight, nearly 49,000 Nepalis downloaded it. They weren’t looking for a new trend; they were searching for a lifeline.
Bitchat Is Different Because It Doesn’t Need the Internet
Here’s the cool part: Bitchat works without the internet. Instead of using cell towers or Wi-Fi, it connects the phone using Bluetooth directly.
So your message goes from one phone to another, such as passing a note in the classroom except in a more secure and encrypted manner.
This means that even if the Internet gets out, or the government blocks websites, your messages can still be received.
Plus, Bitchat has some neat features like:
- Random anonymous IDs so no one knows who you are
- A “panic wipe” that instantly deletes your messages with a triple tap
- The ability to send Bitcoin even offline
So, when the whole world online shuts down, Bitchat keeps you talking.
Why Young Nepalis Chose Bitchat Without Hesitation
The demonstrations in Nepal were the outcome of years of resentment and weren’t abrupt. There were few jobs, corruption was rampant, and youth thought their opinions were unimportant.
It seemed like yet another tactic to muzzle them when the authorities shut social media. But instead of shutting up, the youth got creative. They started sharing Bitchat with each other.
Phones were literally passed from hand to hand so messages could jump across crowds and neighborhoods. Even as things got dangerous over 30 people lost their lives during the unrest Bitchat was the one thing they could count on to stay connected and organize safely.
This Isn’t Just Nepal’s Story It’s Happening Everywhere
The thing is, Nepal isn’t alone.
In Indonesia, during police protests, over 12,000 people turned to Bitchat. In Russia, where censorship is tight, thousands started using it. Even in the U.S., people worried about privacy are downloading Bitchat to avoid being tracked.
The recurring theme? People want to be able to communicate freely and safely in any situation without depending on large corporations or the internet.
Bitchat Wasn’t Meant to Be This Big, but It Had To Be
Funny enough, Bitchat was just a side project, something Jack Dorsey built for emergencies like natural disasters. But in today’s world, emergencies aren’t always natural. They’re political. They’re digital.
And when governments try to cut off your voice, you need tools like Bitchat that can’t be easily shut down. No servers to block, no companies to control it. Just phones passing messages, quietly and securely.
