When youth take to the streets, the wind of change arrives. A recent protest in Jantar Mantar was a vivid example where young people defended their demands, forcing the government to make concessions. However, this protest sparked a new discussion, forming a certain perception of Gen-Z. Some start calling Gen-Z rude, impatient, and rebellious, while others praise their ability to question authority. Nevertheless, both these views are incomplete, as history shows that society often fails to properly understand its new generation. The author believes we are making the same mistake regarding Gen-Z.
According to UNICEF India data, the youth population in the country aged 15 to 29 is about 37.5 billion people, making it the largest youth population in the world. By the end of this decade, Gen-Z and millennials together will constitute almost half of the country's population. This generation will define the direction of India's workforce, innovation, and electoral politics in the coming years, so understanding this group is equivalent to understanding the future of India.
Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, also stated that 'if Gen-Z protests, they are not anti-nationalists. They are our next generation. They must understand us, and we must understand them.'
First and foremost, we need to stop viewing this generation through the lens of old perceptions. The biggest mistake is assuming that what is displayed on social media represents the entire generation. Gen-Z is the first generation in India to have grown up entirely in a digital environment. While millennials witnessed the emergence of the internet, for Gen-Z, smartphones, digital payments, artificial intelligence (AI), and social media are an ordinary part of life, not a luxury.
The research organization PRICE (People Research on India's Consumer Economy) published a study this February, according to which 44 percent of Gen-Z first learned about a product through Instagram, while about 80 percent of young people compare different options before making a decision. Online reviews, the internet, friends' advice, and now AI play an important role in their decisions. The way this young generation obtains information differs from previous generations: if older generations relied on newspapers and television, Gen-Z draws information from YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and digital content creators. This generation does not have a single source of information and knowledge, but many channels. This is why communicating with them has become much more difficult for governments, companies, and educational institutions compared to the past.
The new generation lives in several worlds simultaneously. They study at prestigious global universities, work with people from different countries, follow international content creators, celebrate Indian festivals, speak multiple languages, and easily adopt new technologies. Although some may find this unusual, it is actually a sign of their expansion. They are completely Indian and yet equally global.
History shows that every new generation was initially misunderstood. Young people who moved to cities after independence were accused of abandoning traditions. The generation of the 1990s economic reforms was called overly materialistic. At the dawn of the information technology revolution, youth were portrayed as chasing foreign dreams, but time proved that it was these generations that opened new paths of development for India. Gen-Z deserves the same generous understanding.
Ignoring the consciousness hidden behind the slang and candid speech of the digital age would be a mistake. This generation is not confined to the screen; it is at the pulse of the nation. If one strips away the superficial layer of profanity, it becomes clear that Gen-Z is absorbed not in expressing anger, but in new and vibrant intentions for building the nation. And, of course, Gen-Z does not have to choose between becoming global and remaining Indian. Those who believe in their cultural identity can adapt to the world most easily. If governments want to harness the full potential of their youth, they must understand the aspirations of this new generation.
