India's prime minister is wooing the GenZ while cracking down on them
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to engage with GenZ voters through social media after a youth-led protest movement challenged his government. Despite his digital outreach, the administration faces criticism for alleged censorship and the criminalization of dissent.
Why it matters
The shift in political dynamics in India highlights the growing power of digitally-savvy youth movements to challenge long-standing political agendas.
MUMBAI, India – Last month, weeks after tens of thousands of students took to the streets of New Delhi demanding education reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke his silence on the seven-week protests.
Asia India's 'cockroach' movement ousts minister, but can Modi calm youth? Modi said he was aware of how corruption in India's examination systems had affected them, and he was working to fix it.
The reel — shot chin-first, uploaded at midnight — inspired countless parodies. Undaunted, the 75-year-old leader put up more reels over the next few days addressing his "friends," as he referred to the protesting youth. Over the next few weeks, many of his ministers appeared to increase their frequency of posting on Instagram too.
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