Across the globe, Gen Z protests have surged in 2025, with young people in numerous countries fighting against corruption and inequality. These youth-led protests have been spreading across the globe like wildfire in many other countries such as the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia and Mexico.
In October, students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines staged mass walkouts, calling for an end to corruption and demanding more funding for education. Anger grew after people learned of scandals involving billions of pesos lost in flood control projects, causing protests in Manila and Quezon City. Thousands of protesters demanded the swift prosecution of top legislators and officials implicated in the corruption scandal. These demonstrations pressured government officials to open investigations into missing funds and pushed universities to be more transparent with students about resource allocation and welfare.
Protests in Jakarta, Indonesia began in July when lawmakers awarded themselves new allowances while ordinary citizens faced soaring prices. Outrage deepened after an armored police vehicle killed a motorcycle courier, showing how different people have different punishments in response to their actions because of their social standing. These acts of government greed led protesters to raid the home of former Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, ultimately forcing her replacement. She was not the only official removed, as President Prabowo Subianto has since replaced five ministers in response to the unrest. The protests displaced the cabinet, pressured lawmakers to freeze their perks, and increased national debates about police accountability and corruption.
Over the course of November, thousands of activists declaring themselves “Generation Z Mexico” filled the streets of Mexico City and other prominent cities. They protested what they considered the constant violence throughout the country, corruption, and most notably, the assassination of the anti-crime mayor Carlos Manzo. The movements utilized social-media and symbolic imagery to alert their anger of the fixed power across the country and foundational failures. While most representations were peaceful, many resulted in clashes with the police, such as the riot within Mexico City. The riot injured over 100 police officers with 40 requiring hospital treatment.
These protests are not new, as they happen almost every year. Yet they all share a common background: youth anger at corruption, inequality, and repression. These movements, often organized through social media, escalated into mass uprisings that successfully displaced governments and reshaped political landscapes. Some case studies include the Gen Z protests in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Madagascar.
The first example is Bangladesh, where protests erupted in July, 2024, over a politicized job quota system. Security forces fired live rounds, killing more than 1,400 people. Outrage peaked when police shot a teenager at point‑blank range, exposing unequal punishment between elites and ordinary citizens. The uprising forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. Protesters stormed Awami League offices, while Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of an interim government. The quota system was dismantled, the cabinet displaced, and debates on corruption and police violence intensified.
Secondly, during the early times of September, a sweeping ban of 26 major social-media platforms held by the corrupted government initiated a huge youth revolt within Nepal. This anger flared from the people who established a deeper meaning from widespread corruption, economic struggles, and perceived instability in public governments. Largely organized by Gen Z and young citizens through other platforms, protests quickly converted into mass demolitions, especially with the burning of the parliament within Kathmandu. This demonstration quickly reversed the social media ban, the resignation of the original prime minister, and the installation of an interim government in order to meet the public’s demands.
Lastly, this past September, problems regarding consistent electricity and water outages, government neglect, corruption, and elite management sparked many youth-protests most notably across the capital of Madagascar. Similarly to Nepal, young adults also organized within social media and created many protest symbols/tactics based on the recent uprisings. Although much of the pressure of these protests was dissipated by security forces, president Andry Rojelina dismissed the existing government and considered new regime changes for the country in response to the massive protests.
“I think social media has allowed for more powerful movements. It is easier to rally support, spread information when you are relying on wifi or cell service than it is to show up with just posters and a megaphone,” social studies teacher Ms. Madigan said.
Social media has not only facilitated youth protests, but also has redefined them. Platforms like Twitter and TikTok act as digital megaphones, where hashtags can be used to spread rallying cries and livestreams. A key example of this is another Gen Z protest in Nepal, where countless people organized a march at Kathmandu via social media. This transforms small marches into larger protests. Protesters typically use encrypted apps to coordinate information. Meanwhile, they also broadcast their cause to millions.
“I typically use platforms like Twitter and Tiktok as sights for entertainment and an easy way to find information that is spread by people. This use of social media for making prolific changes is mindblowing,” junior Javin Varghese said.
At the same time, cultural symbols have taken on new political lives, with the most prominent one being the One Piece Jolly Roger. Once a fictional pirate emblem, the grinning skull in a straw hat now waves above rallies from Jakarta to Paris. This jolly roger embodies rebellion, freedom, and solidarity. The use of this flag shows a shift in political thought as youth movements are increasingly drawing from pop culture to craft a shared identity that transcends borders. Articles from CBC News and The Conversation show how this flag has become a unifying banner of defiance for Gen Z populations around the world.
“Seeing the One Piece Jolly Roger at protests shows how our generation views pop culture as more than entertainment. It shows how pop culture is a shared language of rebellion that connects Gen Zers around the world,” sophomore Abel George said.
The increase of Gen Z protests across the globe highlights a generation which is unwilling to accept corruption, inequality, and repression by the government. These revolutions are fueled by social media and cultural symbols like the One Piece Jolly Roger unify the youth population. These movements have not only helped to displace governments but also reshaped political landscapes, proving that youth activism is a powerful force for bringing change in society.
