Gen Z revolutions in Asia test the power and limits of the region's youth

A wave of youth-led protests across Asia is reshaping politics as Generation Z mobilizes over corruption and inequality.

In Nepal, thousands of young protesters gathered in Kathmandu on Sept. 8, including Aditya and four friends who joined the streets as part of a wider push against perceived political elitism. The mood was fueled by images circulated online that linked elite affluence to governance failings, and by claims that a major road had been blocked for hours for VIP guests, a report that was never verified and denied by the politician involved. As demonstrations intensified in the capital, clashes with police left many injured and a dangerous tension hung over the protests. The next day, protesters stormed parliament and government offices, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned amid growing public anger. In all, the episodes left dozens of people dead, underscoring the volatile mix of youth energy and political fault lines in the country. The backdrop was stark: even as Nepal struggled with poverty and limited social mobility, a sense that corruption favored a political class persisted among the young.

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Days before the protests began, the government announced a ban on most social media platforms citing a registration deadline and concerns about fake news and hate speech. The move was seen by many young Nepalis as an attempt to silence them. Aditya and four friends retreated to a library in Kathmandu, where they used AI tools and multiple accounts on TikTok to produce 50 short clips about nepo kids and corruption. The group, calling itself Gen Z Rebels, tapped into a flow of content that spread quickly through influencers and online networks. One early video used a wedding image tied to a political family and a pop-culture reference to the song The Winner Takes It All to urge others to join the cause.

Across the region, the same currents were gathering strength. In Indonesia and the Philippines, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in demonstrations that drew attention to corruption, economic stagnation, and disillusionment with political elites. Indonesians took to the streets amid concerns over government budget cuts and lawmakers’ housing perks, with online hashtags such as IndonesiaGelap (Dark Indonesia) and KaburAjaDulu (Just Run Away First) circulating widely. Dozens of protesters were killed in the months of unrest, and Indonesian authorities faced pressure to respond to the demonstrations with reforms. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos urged peaceful protest even as thousands gathered in Manila, and an independent commission was later established to investigate the possible misuse of flood-prevention funds, with promises from the president that there would be accountability without exceptions.

The regional wave also highlighted the way technology has reshaped mobilization. Young protesters across countries learned to organize and amplify their messages through smartphones, social media, messaging apps, and now AI. Scholars note that Gen Z’s comfort with digital tools makes it easier to coordinate actions, share images of injustice, and sustain momentum across borders. The technology has enabled a sense of solidarity—an online cross-border current that connects Nepalese, Indonesians and Filipinos in a shared fight against corruption. A skull logo that gained traction in Indonesian protests has become a symbol used by supporters in the Philippines and Nepal as well, signaling a broader regional affinity. Hashtags such as SEAblings—playing on the idea of siblings across Southeast Asia—also circulated, showing how protesters expressed mutual support for one another’s anti-corruption movements.

This new wave of mobilization is not the first time Asia has seen mass youth-led activism. Historians point to earlier moments, from the Milk Tea Alliance of 2019 to protests in the Philippines and elsewhere in the 1980s, but observers emphasize that today’s digital reach means images and narratives circulate faster and more widely than ever before. Still, experts caution that rapid online activity alone cannot deliver lasting political change. Steven Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, notes that while social media helps organize and energize movements, durable change requires organized political strategy, durable social bonds beyond the online space, and a credible path to governance reform. Ash Presto, a Philippine sociologist, adds that the emotional pull of seeing wealth and privilege on screens can intensify anger, especially when daily life remains difficult for many families.

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Analysts say the volatility of digital-driven protests poses a challenge for governments: respond with reforms to address grievances, or risk cycles of upheaval with unpredictable outcomes. In Indonesia, authorities did roll back some perks for lawmakers and moved to address concerns about housing allowances, while in the Philippines, institutional oversight was expanded to investigate potential misuse of public funds. These concessions, however, come amid ongoing questions about whether such measures will translate into long-term governance changes or simply quell immediate protests.

The Nepal case also underscores questions about long-term political settlement. Nepal’s own modern transformation has included a 2006 movement that helped oust the monarchy, followed by a protracted period of political realignment and government turnover. Narayan Adhikari, co-founder of the anti-corruption group Accountability Lab, has warned that earlier generations’ activism sometimes faltered after turning into formal power; the current generation’s leaders, he says, are trying to avoid those mistakes by emphasizing a different dynamic: a generation that refuses to worship leaders and seeks collective change rather than blind loyalty to individuals.

Aditya speaks of a different mindset this time around. He says the new generation is learning from past mistakes and refuses to treat leaders as deities. We are continuously learning from the mistakes of our previous generation, he states, adding that this time the movement will pursue lasting change rather than symbolic victories. The road ahead remains uncertain as governments weigh concessions against public demands and as protesters navigate the balance between protest energy and sustainable political organization.

The BBC and other outlets note that the momentum in Kathmandu is part of a broader, region-wide reckoning with corruption and inequality. While some observers worry about the potential for violence, others see the protests as a sign of a younger, more digitally literate citizenry pushing for accountability and greater openness in governance. The coming months will reveal whether the Gen Z cohorts across Asia can translate online energy into durable political reform, or whether the momentum will fade as political cycles resume and institutions recalibrate. Nevertheless, experts say the current moment marks a turning point in how young people perceive their role in shaping their nations’ futures, and how governments respond to a generation that expects tangible progress on wellness, development and opportunity.