From brainrotting doomscrollers to disruptors reshaping political discourse worldwide, the Generation Z shed many a stereotype to acquire a powerful new identity in 2025. A passive, disengaged cohort emerged as a strong force capable of harnessing collective anger to demand accountability, and even topple governments.

From Bangladesh to Nepal to Madagascar, Timor Leste, Mexico, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the political awakening, when it came, was a storm waiting to erupt. A generation of youngsters — woke, educated, aspirational – entered the adult world, not to opportunity and progress, but to face corruption, joblessness and despair. Witnessing privilege and divides of income and class, their fragmented frustrations crystallised into collective anger and spilled onto the streets. And, when a rage-baited Generation Z moved their attention beyond their personal devices, taking to the streets to storm the citadels of corruption, it surprised everyone. Maybe even themselves.

Armed with emblems inspired by pop culture such as Manga comics, their protests had import enough to rattle governments across Latin America, Asia and Africa – the latter two geographies having about 60% of the population as........

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