Gen Z's digital uprising in Bangladesh: The role of social media in the fall of a political despot

Bangladesh has a rich history of student movements, prior to and following its independence, which have been extensively documented in historical narratives. However, the emergence of Gen Z's Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) in July 2024 represents a unique and significant notion in the nation's socio-political landscape: what initially began as a protest led by university students against the quota system for government employment, rapidly transformed into a widespread mass movement challenging the then ruling party. In this context, social media, situated within a participatory media paradigm, functioned as an instrumental tool for mass mobilization, engagement and collective action. Framing within Castells's theory of Networked Society and the concept of Platform Affordances by Papacharissi, this study conducted a discursive study focusing on the intricate dynamics of social media in facilitating and enhancing the movement's efficacy. The research explores the pivotal role of social media as utilized by Gen Z during this uprising, arguing that it served as a strategic mechanism for amplifying awareness, facilitating mobilization, arranging coordination, enhancing communication, and shaping public opinion throughout the movement. • Social media fueled Gen Z's mass uprising against autocracy in Bangladesh. • Facebook and WhatsApp enabled rapid protest coordination and real-time updates. • Hashtags and viral videos amplified public outrage and mobilized national support. • Online dissent shaped global opinion and led to regime change through mass action.