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🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

How Gen-Z redefined the language of protest with memes

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Gen Z protesters in Delhi are using memes and viral social media trends to express dissent.
  • Inspired by the game "Subway Surfers," protest reels featuring police chases have garnered millions of views.
  • This new form of protest blends online engagement with offline demonstrations, using humor and irreverence to convey messages about issues like exam paper leaks.

Young protesters in Delhi are redefining the language of protest by leveraging memes and viral social media trends, creating a distinct Gen Z style of political expression. At the Jantar Mantar protest site, reels inspired by the popular game "Subway Surfers" depict protesters running from police, set to the game's tune. One such reel achieved 2.3 million likes on Instagram, showcasing the powerful reach of this digital-native approach.

Bro thought he can outrun me

— Fitness influencerCaption for a viral Instagram reel inspired by Subway Surfers, showing protesters evading police.

This generation's engagement online, characterized by memes, stickers, and GIFs, is now mirroring their offline activism. The protests, which have seen a significantly younger demographic than previous demonstrations, feature posters and reels that are humorous, irreverent, and often provocative. The visual landscape of the protest site resembles a late-night scroll through a social media feed, blending political messaging with contemporary internet culture.

Everyone is gangsta, until the cockroaches start flying

— Protester posterAn example of the irreverent posters seen at the protest.

What began as anger over repeated examination paper leaks and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has evolved into a form of expression designed as much for the algorithm as for authorities. Social media platforms are flooded with "fit checks" and "get ready with me" videos infused with political messages, alongside adaptations of viral trends like the "Viking row," with chants replaced by calls for resignation.

Kuchupuchu tum resign dedo na.

— Protester posterA poster using baby-talk sarcasm to demand resignation, reflecting Gen Z's unique messaging style.

The messaging, while unparliamentary, is sharp. Posters like "Everyone is gangsta, until the cockroaches start flying" and "Kuchupuchu tum resign dedo na" capture the irreverent tone. Protesters have adopted various costumes, from cockroaches and dinosaurs to superheroes, alongside traditional figures like Gandhi and Ambedkar. The soundtrack to this movement includes popular songs adapted for protest, turning dissent into viral content aimed at "breaking the internet."

Row! Row! Row! – replaced by “Resign! Resign! Resign!”

— ProtestersAdaptation of a viral trend ('Viking row') to political demands.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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