Now Reading: Modi shifts Instagram style to court Gen Z after protests
-
01
Modi shifts Instagram style to court Gen Z after protests
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 75, has adopted a more casual style on Instagram after youth protests this year, the BBC reports. His timeline now includes get-ready-with-me reels and selfie-style addresses where he…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 75, has adopted a more casual style on Instagram after youth protests this year, the BBC reports. His timeline now includes get-ready-with-me reels and selfie-style addresses where he calls young people 'friends'. The shift marks a change for a leader who built a strongman image through scripted speeches and choreographed appearances.
The change follows protests led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, which spread through memes and Instagram reels and led to a federal minister resigning. More than 60% of Indians are under 35, and Gen Z is expected to form a large voting bloc by 2029. The BJP has also replaced its social media chief and asked ministers to improve their online presence.
Young users have met Modi's new posts with sarcasm, mocking his first selfie-video and calling BJP outreach videos 'cringe'. Ginni Malia, 22, told the BBC the timing of the engagement raises questions, and the videos fail to address protest concerns. Some analysts say the BJP struggled to contain the online narrative during the protests.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The BBC frames Modi's Instagram pivot as a reactive, crisis-driven move following Gen Z protests. It emphasises mockery and scepticism from young users, presenting the outreach as a misfire. The article's tone is observational but leans critical by foregrounding the BJP's failure to control the narrative and the 'cringe' reception. A measured read: the shift is real, Modi's team is experimenting with formats, but the BBC's focus on backlash over strategy inflates the immediate failure. What to watch: whether the BJP refines its Gen Z content before the 2029 general election.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 government-critical
Sources (2): bbc.com (government critical), bbc.co.uk (government critical)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
