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How Gen-Z's use of tech changed a regime

Published : Thursday, 6 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 428
Nirodh Kumar Barman & Niemur Rahman Emon
Not long ago the so-called elderly told us that too much time wasted on the smartphone would make dull an entire generation of children. So, Gen-Z busted all that with the July Uprising of 2024, in which they proved how latent sophisticated thinking and the strategic use of their technology would tear down structural injustices.

This historic movement was in response to the reintroduction of the discriminatory quota system in government jobs. This system alienated the youth that appeared in peaceful protests on July 7, 2024, met with brutal repression. The "July Massacre" would claim several innocent lives and an increase in anger among the students in the nation.

"For our generation, the quota system wasn't just about jobs; it was about justice," said Muzammel Haque, a Dhaka University student.

Students from various institutions joined the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, demanding reforms. Protesters leveraged mobile platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Telegram to organize and share tactics while evading state surveillance. "WhatsApp was our lifeline," said Ahsan Ullah, a student at Jahangirnagar University. "It alerted us to police raids and helped us regroup."

�Art and creativity played pivotal roles. Protesters made up slogans, graffiti, and symbols like clenched fists to invoke resistance. "It felt raw and real, like our voices could not be silenced: handmade leaflets," said Tisha Ahmed from Rangpur University. However, such efforts came under state targeting with arrests of artists and censoring creative demonstrations�

Social media became a tool for exposing state violence. Sharmeen Akhter of Jagannath University recounted live-streaming an attack on peaceful protesters: "The screams and brutality were undeniable proof of our struggle." TikTok amplified their message, turning protests into viral moments.

In a statement from Tanisha Rafiq, a student of Rajshahi University, Short videos brought people out of their immediate circles emotionally. "Images broadcast in real time and videos highlight police brutality to nab attention in the respective country and worldwide," Tanisha added.

Sharmin Akter attending Rangpur University said, "I recorded and shared the violence in order to show what state media wouldn't do." These efforts challenged the most of the state's narrative forcing it to reckon between the demands raised by the protesters.

In reaction, the state undertook fierce and violent crackdowns, cut off the internet, and increased its surveillance. The eight-day striptease performance of the internet from July 10 was aimed at strangling protests; however, it drew wide condemnation on economic and social grounds. Prolific saw some major activists arrested, which added to their fear, but not enough to stop the movement.

Protesters adapted to offline methods, using face-to-face coordination, leaflets, and creative messaging.

"When the internet went down, we met in small groups to plan next steps," said Rafsan Sabab of BRAC University. "It was leaflets printed from our personal home printers and then distributed secretly that became our lifeline. "We would slip them under doors, leave them on buses, and we even threw them off rooftops," he said.

Art and creativity played pivotal roles. Protesters made up slogans, graffiti, and symbols like clenched fists to invoke resistance. "It felt raw and real, like our voices could not be silenced: handmade leaflets," said Tisha Ahmed from Rangpur University. However, such efforts came under state targeting with arrests of artists and censoring creative demonstrations.

The state's violent response resulted in at least 1,423 deaths and 22,000 injuries, according to Tarikul Islam, a coordinator of the movement. Public outrage over these actions only strengthened the protesters' resolve. Despite arrests, censorship, and information blackouts, the uprising, driven by Gen-Z's resilience and mobile technology, garnered global attention and calls for human rights investigations.

The July Uprising demonstrated the power of youth and technology to challenge injustice, proving that determination and creativity can drive significant social change, even under extreme repression.

Nirodh Kumar Barman, Media Coordinator, Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP and Niemur Rahman Emon, Dhaka University Correspondent, Daily Observer



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