Amid growing social and political issues in India, there is a noticeable absence of Gen Z participation in street protests. Traditionally seen as an active and vocal demographic in advocating for change, young Indians seem to be largely absent from recent demonstrations. This phenomenon raises questions about the factors influencing this generation’s reluctance to take to the streets.
One of the most significant factors contributing to the apparent disengagement of young Indians from street protests is the rise of social media as a platform for activism. Gen Z individuals are leveraging online platforms to express their opinions, raise awareness about social issues, and mobilize support for various causes. This shift towards digital activism allows them to participate in movements from the comfort of their homes, potentially diminishing the need for physical presence in street protests.
Additionally, some experts suggest that the lack of concrete outcomes from past protests could also be dissuading young Indians from engaging in street demonstrations. With a growing sense of skepticism towards the efficacy of traditional forms of protest, the youth may be seeking alternative ways to bring about change.
Moreover, the socio-political climate in India, marked by polarization and the suppression of dissent, could be influencing Gen Z’s decision to stay away from street protests. The fear of facing backlash or repercussions for participating in public demonstrations may be leading young Indians to opt for safer forms of activism that do not involve physical presence.
While the absence of young Indians from street protests may be notable, it does not necessarily indicate apathy towards social issues. Instead, it reflects a shift in the modes of engagement and activism preferred by this generation, highlighting the evolving landscape of social movements in the country.
Sources Analysis:
Social Media Platforms – With a history of being used as tools for activism, these platforms may have a vested interest in promoting online activism over physical protests. They may benefit from increased user engagement on their platforms due to digital activism.
Political Parties – Involved parties that may have a bias in influencing the narrative around street protests to serve their interests. Their statements should be analyzed in the context of their political motives.
Fact Check:
Shift towards online activism – Verified fact. This trend is supported by data showing increased online engagement of Gen Z in social and political issues.
Fear of backlash – Unconfirmed claim. While there may be anecdotal evidence supporting this, it is challenging to verify the extent of this fear among young Indians without specific data.
—
Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Gen Z rising? Why young Indians aren’t taking to the streets”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.