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Gen Z protests
Worldwide protests in the 2020s From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Gen Z protests are several protests in countries around the world said to be predominantly led by the eponymous Generation Z.
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Causes
The various demonstrations have had a myriad of causes, varying from country to country, however, they generally relate to dissatisfaction with ruling governments, economic turmoil, declining living standards, and a large, disaffected, often unemployed youth population.[1] The protests generally arose from mass dissatisfaction relating to government scandals, increasing difficulty of access to basic utilities and resources, and declining standards of living.[1][2][3] In an interview with CBC News, professor Michelle Chen identified "frustration over poor governance, lack of opportunities and rampant inequality" as the common thread of the protests around the world.[4]
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History
The term was first used to describe the 2024 Kenya Finance Bill protests, a largely youth-led mass protest movement against a controversial tax hike.[5] The term garnered wider global popularity following the ousting of the Nepali government in 2025 and a string of concurrent protests that occurred around and after it.[6] Widespread protests in Asia that year, also called the "Asian Spring" in reference to the Arab Spring, were also identified as Gen Z protests.[7] The Gen Z protests were said by Time in October 2025 to have reached the continents of Asia, Africa, and South America.[8]
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Methods
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The usage of social media were used to help organize and coordinate these protests.[9][10][8] Protestors in Morocco and Nepal frequently communicated via the messaging platform Discord.[11][12]
Online coordination, in particular using Discord, was also used for a followup political process in the Nepalese case: the online election of a temporary prime minister for a transitionary period.[13][14]
Symbolism
In various Gen Z protests, the Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger from the manga One Piece has been used as a "rallying cry and symbol for youth-led protest movements"[15] and a "symbol of freedom and a voice against injustice". This flag was first used in the protests in Indonesia.[16] It has also been used in Nepal,[17] Philippines[18] and Madagascar.[19] In other Southeast Asian countries, other pop culture symbols also have been used to signal defiance, among them references to Harry Potter and the three-finger salute from The Hunger Games. The response to the use of the Straw Hat flag has been harsh, with an Indonesian lawmaker saying it was an attempt to divide national unity and another suggesting it could amount to treason.[18] When the government of K. P. Sharma Oli was toppled in Nepal, protesters hung the flag at the gates of the Singha Durbar palace as it burned.[15]
Demonstrations identified as "Gen Z protests"
Countries with protests Countries with protests that have toppled their governments
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References
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