Today in Focus The great Gen Z revolt
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Oct 27, 2025 Dr. Nayana Prakash, a Chatham House fellow, analyzes the rise of Gen Z protests globally. Yuzhan Rajbandhari, a civil engineering student from Nepal, shares insights on how a TikTok post ignited massive protests against political privilege, while Shelley Andromiaja from Madagascar recounts the youth-led uprising demanding presidential resignation. The podcast explores how social media fuels these movements, the role of TikTok in organizing protests, and the implications of leaderless resistance in the Global South.
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Luxurious Displays Sparked Mass Outrage
- Visible wealth by politician's children (the 'Nepo baby' posts) fuelled a visceral backlash among struggling youth in Nepal.
- That outrage helped spark student-led protests that grew into a broader movement against corruption and inequality.
App Bans Catalysed Rapid Mobilisation
- Nepal's immediate trigger was a government ban on 25 apps after a short forced registration window.
- Protesters used the remaining platforms, Discord and TikTok, to organise and mobilise quickly.
A Protester's Frontline Account
- Yuzhan Rajbandhari described joining crowded, leaderless protests that felt like a tinderbox ready to ignite.
- He said police fired bullets, activists formed human chains and many young people were killed or wounded.