Are the kids alright? Gen Z takes on governments that failed them
Once dismissed as “chronically online,” Gen Z is proving it’s anything but passive.
Gen Z spent their formative years indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only to emerge into a world of unrest, climate crisis, inequality, and a tough job market. They’re angry. And now, they are taking it out on governments that failed them around the world.
The global wave of youth-led protest is particularly notable in Asia. Known as ‘Discord Revolution’, the Nepali joined forces earlier in September to protest corruption and free speech limitations.
The increasing gap between the elites and the middle class in Nepal, along with the ban on multiple social media platforms, caused a public backlash, with Gen Z at the front of the anti-government movement. The government lifted the ban shortly after the demonstrations began, but they only intensified.
Crowds stormed the Nepalese Parliament and burned down governmental offices. As the demonstrators and law enforcement clashed across the country, at least 70 people died. The unrest forced the prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, to resign.
While Nepal’s ‘Discord Revolution’ overthrew the government, other youth movements aren’t as deadly but still effective.
In August, Indonesians protested the lavish perks of government officials. House of Representatives members were receiving housing allowances about twenty times the monthly minimum wage, as NBC News reported. The protestors, primarily students, demanded the abolition of such perks and clashed with riot police. Following the demonstrations, the amount was adjusted to current prices in Jakarta.
Young people are rising all over the world. Activists in Morocco are calling for more demonstrations this weekend despite deaths and arrests. Youth-led protests were sparked by governmental spending on expensive stadiums ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup, while underfunding healthcare and education facilities for Moroccans.
Authorities responded forcefully to the ‘Gen Z 212’ protests, named after Morocco’s international dialing code, detaining more than 500 participants. There were also three reported deaths, according to The Guardian.
With over 200,000 members, the Gen Z 212 Discord channel has become a central hub for coordination and updates. The hashtag #FreeKoulchi (“free everyone” in Moroccan Arabic) continues to gain traction online as families demand the release of those detained. While Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said the government remains “ready for dialogue,” organizers declared new protests will take place on Oct. 18, signaling little sign of de-escalation.
In Madagascar, Gen Z forced the president, Andry Rajoelina, out of power and out of the country following weeks of demonstrations. Protestors demanded more job opportunities and better government, similar to youth-led demonstrations in Morocco, Nepal, Indonesia, and other countries.
While the particular triggers for Gen-Z-led protests differ in each country, they are all grounded in similar long-term issues of inequality, corruption, and economic uncertainty. So no, the kids worldwide are not alright. And they’re making it known.
Sources: BBC, The New Yorker, NBC News, ABC News and The Guardian