Real Gen Z, Stand up

Nepal was always called a poor country. But last week, we saw how rich the country is. Have you ever seen so many cars burning at once in any country? Have you ever heard of so many bundles and bundles of banknotes being found in the mansions of the leaders of the proletariat? Can such a country be called poor? The Gen Z rebellion has shown one and all that there is a storehouse of wealth in the heart of the country, but the blood of the citizens is treated cheaply.

Nepal stands at a strange crossroads today. The working environment is clouded with confusion. Society is stunned into silence. Geo-politics has sketched a crooked line. And in the midst of that crowd, a new species has been born – Generation Z. In short, Gen Z.

Neither fully grown youth, nor exactly children. Neither scholars, nor completely ignorant. Call them energetic, yet they sleep until 10 in the morning, call them lazy, yet they stay up until 1 am. Say they know nothing, and they can gossip about the whole world. Say they know everything, and yet they remain unaware of what is going on around them. Say they are not dynamic, and yet they are first in technology. Call them capable, yet they do not recognize society. Say they don’t do politics, and yet they can blow up an entire government in a mere 24 hours. From where were these strange species born, and how?

The answer is crystal clear - from the womb of smartphones!

They have grown up with touchscreens right from their birth, with the rhythm of TikTok. They have made reels and views the mantra of their life. If the Wi-Fi connection gets lost, their patience is lost. If comments decrease, their heart rate increases. Without social media, the very existence of life is in danger for them, and just as the government has collapsed, their faith in life collapses.

But these strange creatures have become the largest online vote bank and a major decisive force in today's Nepal. They elect the Prime Minister on Discord but run away from debates and discussions. They have learned the art of hacking, but they do not realize that their own agenda has been hacked!

The real problem, however, is that Gen Z itself is not of a single kind. Like the sweet shops of Barmajhiya, they come in all varieties - authentic, fake, partisan, clique-based and more. So now, let's try to see how many varieties of Gen Zs have flourished in Nepal?

Real Gen Z

Born after 1997, they arrived hand in hand with the mobile phone. Their world begins on TikTok and ends on Instagram. For them, a movement is a hashtag; homework is a copy-paste from ChatGPT; love is a bouquet of emojis.

They dream of toppling governments on Facebook yet cannot rise before 10 in the morning. In the darkness of night, they weave colorful plans to save the nation—sometimes as a reel, sometimes as a reality challenge.

Fake Gen Z

They are aged 45-50 but sport haircuts in the style of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Their Facebook DP is a school photo and their profile line reads 'Still twenty at heart'. These are the hijackers – masters of the art of capturing the movement by posing as the real ones. Skilled at threatening and intimidating others in the name of being the real Gen Z, they don't really care about the movement. What they truly want is nothing more than selfies and power.

Old Gen Z

Gen Z in name, but from the 90s by nature. They do not know how to use a mobile phone but never miss a chance to drop the line – ‘We also participated in political movements’. Their worries are less about TikTok and more about the rent and loan installments. Deep down, they long to call themselves Gen Z, but their hearts sink when others simply address them as ‘uncle’!

New Gen Z

They still carry schoolbags on their shoulders and use only three fingers to operate a mobile phone. Their grasp of school work is half-baked, yet they manage an A grade by copying from others. For them, a movement is nothing more than a plan to bunk Friday classes. And their idea of understanding politics is watching whatever random satire show pops up on YouTube.

Patriotic Gen Z

The Nepali flag finds a prominent place on their Facebook walls, and they write ‘Proud to be a Nepali’ in their bio. But they are the first in line to get a passport and head abroad! Leaving the village swing behind, they sip Americanos or lattes with friends for Instagram. And they suddenly develop an ‘allergy’ when their mothers call them to the field to help harvest the paddy.

Dad-Mom Gen Z

They are quite quick in proclaiming themselves as ‘self-dependent'. But their mobile recharge cards come from their father’s pocket and their Netflix subscriptions from their mother's purse. Their talk sounds very intellectual. If petrol becomes dearer, they will also offer a solution - 'Now let's all buy electric scooters'. But to buy a scooter, their dad has to send the money!

Meme Gen Z

They are more powerful than the government. They can plummet the government's popularity simply through a meme. If radish becomes expensive, their new meme becomes 'radish is the new iPhone'. They are at the forefront of all movements – from saving Fewa Lake to saving social media. But when they see the police, they rush to post on Snapchat, 'You are not allowed to raise your voice in this country'.

Business Gen Z

Their businesses started with their father's investment. Their products: organic coffee, handmade candles, sustainable clothing. Their customers: their mother and her brother! Marketing - Insta and Reels. They look like the busiest people on the planet. One day they say, “I launched a startup!” The next day – “closed”. On LinkedIn, however, they never forget to mention themselves as the CEO, founder, or director of XYZ company. Visit their website, and you will see a notice: “Closed until further notice!”

Confused Gen Z

This is the biggest crowd. Sometimes a motivational speaker. A job today, a startup tomorrow, or “going to Canada” the following day! If exams go wrong, they blame the planetary movements. Always living in conflict and confusion. TikTok or Insta? Studies or Canada? The answers to all such questions depend on their 'mood'.

Conclusion

In today’s Nepal, Gen Z is not a trivial matter; it is also a movement, business, politics and a big stage for entertainment.

But now everyone is confused as to who the real Gen Z is and who the fake ones are.

In this great confusion, one thing that is certain is without Gen Z, nothing is trending in Nepal now. It is not the parliament that decides whether to make or break the government, but the reels and hashtags.

Therefore, let’s not underestimate Gen Z. Right now, it is in their hands - the power to raise the flag of the government or bring it down in an instant.

But the most important thing, which rarely occurs in history, is that the notion of clearing the path to power, which was becoming a monopoly in this country, happened in just two days because of Gen Z.

A big salute to those real Gen Zs who started the movement to show the country a new dawn!

This article was originally published in October 2025 issue of New Business Age magazine.