IN scenes resembling a dystopian blockbuster, furious so-called Gen Z protesters have left a trail of carnage in nations from Asia to Africa as they oust leaders and set cities on fire.
Now, it’s feared discontent could spread to the UK – with “powerful” younger generations being rallied by fast-spreading messages on social media.
EPAThe Singha Durbar palace burns in Nepal after ‘Gen Z’ protests turned violent[/caption]
ReutersDemonstrators celebrate during a deadly protest in Nepal[/caption]
EPAPolice take aim as clashes erupt with protesters in front of the parliament building in Kathmandu, Nepal[/caption]
Last month, Nepal was rocked by deadly riots as “Gen Z” protesters took to the streets over a ban on social media – with clashes killing more than 70.
Raging crowds stormed Kathmandu’s parliament building – burning the prime minister’s residence and government offices.
Politicians and their families were dragged from their homes, beaten in the street, and even set alight in a bloody wave of revenge.
By the end of it, Prime Minister Sharma Oli was gone – forced out by a generation who had finally had enough.
For Nepal’s young population, it was the culmination of years of anger over alleged corruption, inequality and leaders they see as lining their own pockets while the rest of the country struggles.
Dr Fraser Sugden, a professor in human geography at the University of Birmingham, told The Sun: “Anger had been brewing for a long time.
“It wasn’t just jealousy against people being rich, it was the idea that this was their money, that this was taxpayers’ money.”
Since then, the violence has spread.
In Morocco, Gen Z movements under banners like GenZ 212 and Morocco Youth Voice exploded after several women died in an underfunded hospital in Agadir.
Anger grew as the government funnelled billions into preparations for the 2030 World Cup while hospitals and schools crumbled.
Protest videos went viral, demonstrations spread, and authorities imposed curfews.
In Madagascar, it was rolling power cuts and water shortages that sparked chaos.
With much of the capital Antananarivo plunged into darkness, furious youths led protests demanding President Andry Rajoelina’s resignation.
Security forces opened fire, leaving more than 20 dead and hundreds injured.
The government dissolved, but demonstrations continue to rock the country.
In Peru, a pension law forcing every citizen over 18 into a scheme triggered mass protests.
But behind it lay deeper fury at corruption, police violence and political instability.
ReutersDemonstrators in Nepal celebrate after storming the PM’s office and other ministries during protests[/caption]
AFPMembers of the security forces detain a protester during protests demanding reforms in healthcare and education sectors in Morocco[/caption]
APA torched police vehicle as protests turn violence in Sale, Morocco[/caption]
Tear gas and rubber bullets rained down on Lima, as President Dina Boluarte dug her heels in despite calls to back down.
Sergio Pantoja Torres, a US-based college counselor who works with teenagers, told The Sun: “What makes this generation unique is their refusal to separate their values from their actions.
“When they feel ignored, they act, and when they act, they do it loudly and collectively.
“The real question is not whether these uprisings could spread, but whether institutions and leaders are ready to listen before they do.
“This is not a wave that will fade – it is the new language of youth asserting that their future deserves to be shaped by them, not for them.”
In Nepal, the spark that lit the fuse came when the government banned 26 social media and messaging platforms – from Facebook and X to TikTok and WhatsApp.
Officials said it was to tackle fake news, but Nepal’s youth argued it was a bid to silence them.
Almost half of Nepal’s population use social media – and many of those are under 30.
Viral clips of politicians’ children – flaunting Gucci handbags, Louis Vuitton boxes, sports cars and luxury holidays – became a bone of contention.
Dr Sugden said: “Instagram allows people to see how the other half live and interact with them in real time.
“There’s a perception that this is ill-gotten wealth.”
The fury at so-called “nepo-kids” became symbolic of something deeper – a system where jobs are scarce, wages are low, and opportunity feels out of reach.
Youth unemployment in Nepal is over 20 per cent, while thousands of young men and women leave the country every day to find work abroad.
Most who stay are in the informal sector – domestic workers, cleaners and porters.
Even graduates with degrees are stuck in limbo.
AFPSecurity forces walk next to a burning barricade in Antananarivo, Madagascar[/caption]
AFPProtesters carry stones during an anti-government protest in Madagascar[/caption]
AFPRiot police officers take cover during an anti-government demonstration in Lima[/caption]
Dr Sugden said: “This is about underemployment.
“University education has increased exponentially, but the job sector has not expanded at the same rate.
“They want to be able to settle in their country.”
As protests escalated, symbols of state power burned – parliament building, the Supreme Court, and even the Presidential Palace.
Graffiti scrawled on the charred walls read: “From now, only Gen Z youth will be in this place. Corrupt leaders will be sent out of our country. Long live Gen Z youth.”
Nepal has now joined Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in becoming the latest South Asian country where a young, digital-savvy generation has brought down its government.
Protesters didn’t just use TikTok and Instagram.
Discord servers served as forums for debate, whilst ChatGPT was used to help decide who might lead next.
However, the seeds of revolution aren’t just confined to South Asia.
Different countries and different triggers, but the common thread is clear – social media, corruption, lack of opportunity and a generation who refuse to keep quiet.
Dr Sugden said: “The social media aspect is useful because it’s helped people organise, but I think it’s also helped them be more aware of social injustices.”
So, could it happen here in the UK?
While the UK has an older average age than Nepal, with fewer young people making up the bulk of the population, experts fear discontent is brewing.
Dr Sugden said: “I think there are similar issues in the Western world.
“Young people are not getting the kind of lifestyles their parents or their grandparents got.
“I think it could spill over at some point.
“We have great stability in the UK, but I think there are pressures facing young people.
“At some point in the future things will spill over, but the worry is whether it can be channelled in a positive way because it can be easily hijacked by people with nefarious agendas.”
For now, Britain’s youth take their anger to the ballot box and the picket line rather than storming parliament.
But if Nepal, Madagascar, Morocco and Peru are anything to go by, TikTok timelines can turn into burning streets almost overnight.
“They’re powerful, they’re educated, they’re much more globally connected,” says Dr Sugden.
“My advice would be not to underestimate the power of young people.”
ReutersA demonstrator holding a placard that reads ‘this is not your father’s country’[/caption]