The Promises and Pitfalls of the Social Media–Fueled Gen-Z Protests Across Asia

The shortcomings of social media–fueled protests should not lead anyone to believe that change isn’t possible. Social media continues to be a vital vehicle for young people to amplify long-standing grievances rooted in inequality and abuse of power and mobilize larger populations. Protests in one country, when shared online, can inspire citizens elsewhere facing similar injustices: In the wake of mass demonstrations in Indonesia and Nepal, the Philippines is now experiencing large anti-corruption demonstrations.

Yet one key lesson from the past decade is clear: Mobilization on social media alone is not enough. Emerging studies on democratic resistance and resilience emphasize the importance of hybrid strategies that combine institutional approaches (for example, election campaigns and legal reforms) with extra-institutional methods (such as street protests). These strategies should combine online activism with traditional forms of protest, such as strikes and rallies. Equally crucial are broad-based alliances that strengthen collaboration between civil society, political parties, institutional actors, and online-based movements. These dynamics can yield positive outcomes: In Sri Lanka, the progressive coalition Samagi Jana Balawegaya won the 2024 election, while in South Korea, popular mobilization effectively repelled the attempted coup in December 2024.

These successes offer hope, but they also remind us that sustainable transformation requires more than fleeting moments of protests: It demands vigilance against autocratic threats, democratic responsiveness to citizens’ grievances, and a collective commitment to confront deep-rooted inequality and entrenched cultures of impunity.