Generation Z is increasingly influencing global economic and political landscapes, leveraging digital platforms to challenge established systems and demand reform. Their activism is reshaping investor sentiment, creating uncertainty for markets, and signalling potential shifts in policy frameworks. This wave of youth-led mobilisation shows not only social and political frustration but also broader economic consequences, as governments and corporations respond to emerging demands for transparency, accountability, and equitable opportunities across global markets.
These developments come at a time when the global economy in 2025 presents a mixed picture. According to the latest Global Economy Update by CareEdge Ratings, easing inflation in emerging markets contrasts with persistent price pressures in developed nations. Higher inflation in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom is being driven by elevated service costs, rising wages, and growing debt, while emerging markets are experiencing faster moderation in prices due to early monetary tightening and lower food inflation.
According to the Ipsos Market Essentials August 2025 survey, 70 per cent of young respondents globally reported feeling anxious about macro-level uncertainties, compared to 62 per cent of Baby Boomers. In India, 78 per cent of Generation Z respondents said they were anxious, compared to 71 per cent of Indian Baby Boomers. The survey indicates that youth are struggling more than older cohorts to cope with global events.
According to the UNICEF Perception of Youth Mental Health Report 2025, 74 per cent of Generation Z respondents believe that schools should play a role in helping young people manage stress, anxiety, or feelings of overwhelm related to local or global events. The report further notes that approximately 60 per cent of young people feel that schools are already fulfilling this role. It also highlights that 60 per cent of respondents feel overwhelmed by news or events happening in their community or the world, while 55 per cent find the activities and strategies they use to manage stress effective.
South Asia's Youth Protest Epicentres
From Kathmandu to Colombo, Dhaka to Jakarta, and increasingly in Europe and the Americas, young people are transforming political engagement through social media coordination. These movements operate without traditional leadership structures and bypass conventional political channels. Activists share common concerns, including economic inequality, political corruption, and generational exclusion from power, with anxiety driven by tangible global uncertainties identified in research.
In Madagascar, the "Gen Z Madagascar" movement, which began on 25 September 2025 due to frustrations with frequent electricity and water outages, has evolved into broader criticism of President Andry Rajoelina’s government. According to the United Nations, the protests have resulted in at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries, although the government disputes these figures. Protesters have rejected government proposals for dialogue and are demanding the president’s resignation.
In Nepal, youth activism has contributed to significant political changes in recent years. According to local political analysts, protests organised and coordinated by young people using digital tools have directly influenced political decisions, demonstrating Generation Z’s growing capacity to effect tangible political change.
Sri Lanka’s 2022 Aragalaya movement began as a response to a severe economic crisis but evolved into a comprehensive challenge to the political establishment, ultimately contributing to the resignation of the president. According to independent observers, the movement relied heavily on digital coordination, with students and young professionals using social media to share information, coordinate actions, and sustain momentum across regions. Unlike traditional political movements, Aragalaya operated without formal leadership, instead using collective decision-making to guide activities.
In Bangladesh, student-led demonstrations initially focused on reforming employment quotas that reserve a significant portion of government jobs for specific groups. According to analysts, these protests expanded to include wider concerns about political access, economic opportunity, and social justice. Despite violent confrontations and numerous casualties, participants maintained momentum using sophisticated digital organisation and strategic mobilisation.
Indonesian students have also sustained pressure on political institutions through ongoing protests. According to research on regional activism, these movements demonstrate significant organisational capacity and strategic sophistication, allowing students to navigate political challenges while contending with the same global uncertainties reported in surveys.
Global Pattern of Youth-led Mobilisation
Mapping of global protests reveals simultaneous youth-led movements across multiple continents. From Kenya to European capitals, young people are coordinating around shared demands for political reform and economic justice.
In Kenya, youth-led protests against proposed tax increases evolved into a broader campaign for government accountability, ultimately resulting in the withdrawal of the finance bill after demonstrators occupied parliament buildings. According to human rights observers, the movement’s success illustrates the political potency of digitally coordinated youth activism.
Across Europe, young activists have mobilised around climate change, educational reform, and political transparency. According to European research institutes, these movements share characteristics with those in the Global South, including reliance on digital coordination, absence of formal leadership, and the ability to expand issue-specific protests into broader calls for systemic reform.
In the United States, youth mobilisation has centred on multiple issues, including gun control, climate policy, and Palestinian solidarity protests at university campuses. Observers note that these movements sustain pressure on institutions despite varying government responses, reflecting the adaptability of digital-native strategies.
Digital Infrastructure Enables New Protest Models
Technological platforms are reshaping political organisation. Social media with algorithm-driven content spreads information rapidly without traditional media gatekeepers, creating new avenues for mobilisation. Encrypted messaging applications allow real-time coordination of actions, enhancing resilience against conventional disruption. According to political analysts, this infrastructure represents a significant challenge for authorities accustomed to traditional hierarchical organisations.
The transnational nature of contemporary youth movements is evident in shared symbols and organisational approaches. Activists across continents have developed common cultural references and protest methodologies that transcend national borders, creating a global protest culture.
The adoption of imagery from global popular culture, including symbols such as the 'One Piece' pirate flag, conveys shared values of freedom, adventure, and rebellion against systems perceived as unresponsive to youth concerns. Analysts note that these symbols enable visual and cultural connections between disparate movements.
A recurring theme is what political scientists describe as a "crisis of representation." Traditional political parties, often led by ageing politicians from previous political contexts, struggle to engage with younger generations and address their concerns. This gap contributes to generational divides in trust and political participation.
Economic factors underpin many protest movements. High youth unemployment, especially among educated young people, creates fertile conditions for sustained activism. In South Asia and parts of Africa, economic growth has not generated sufficient employment opportunities for young people entering the workforce. According to analysts, this results in a "frustrated generation" of educated, ambitious young people who perceive limited avenues for advancement.
Social media amplifies perceptions of inequality. Young people compare their prospects with peers abroad and with local elites, deepening awareness of systemic inequities. Analysts suggest that this global perspective strengthens demands for political and economic reform.
Government Responses And Strategic Challenges
Government responses vary by local context. Strategies include limited concessions, legal measures, and, in some cases, force. Some authorities have achieved containment through tactical concessions while maintaining control over political structures. Analysts indicate that dealing with digitally-native, leaderless movements poses a challenge for conventional governance approaches.
The effectiveness of responses differs according to protest characteristics, political structures, and international attention. In some regions, governments have successfully mitigated unrest through a combination of limited concessions and strategic repression. Elsewhere, authorities struggle to address root grievances driving sustained mobilisation.
Global powers monitor these developments for regional implications. In strategic regions such as South Asia, youth movements intersect with international competition, influencing diplomatic alignments and partnerships. Observers note that protests, while domestically-focused, carry international significance.
A critical question is whether youth movements can transition from street activism to lasting political influence. While they have forced short-term changes, the long-term impact depends on building sustained organisational capacity and clear political programmes.
The leaderless structure of many protests, while advantageous for resilience and organic growth, complicates engagement in formal politics. Without leadership or representative mechanisms, negotiating with established powers is challenging, limiting the ability to convert mobilisation into institutional change.
Ongoing economic pressures, particularly for young populations, suggest that protests will continue. Analysts identify insufficient employment opportunities for educated youth as a persistent driver of political discontent, creating tension between aspirations and political realities.
Digital infrastructure continues to evolve. New communication technologies and platforms offer opportunities to enhance organisation but also present challenges for strategic coherence and sustainability. Analysts note that the capacity of youth movements to develop into viable political alternatives remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, persistent youth mobilisation across diverse regions indicates that these movements are not temporary phenomena. According to political scientists, they represent enduring structural shifts in political engagement and opposition, reflecting fundamental changes in how dissent is organised in the digital era.
The confrontation between traditional political systems and digitally empowered youth reflects a broader transformation in 21st-century politics. Experts suggest that while outcomes remain uncertain, these movements are reshaping the landscape of global political participation and governance. |
