Iran Struggles to Connect with Gen Z After War with Israel
The Iranian government's efforts to connect with younger generations have hit a snag following a month-long battle with Israel that left Iran's leadership scrambling to placate restless youth.
President Masoud Pezeshkian recently unveiled an " adviser" - Amirreza Ahmadi - as part of his administration's plan to improve social freedoms and lift sanctions, sparking hopes among young Iranians who have been driving change across Asia and globally. However, the move has been met with criticism from users who claim that Ahmadi does not truly represent Gen Z Iranians, and accused him of using bots to boost his online presence.
Critics argue that Pezeshkian's administration is struggling to speak the language of a generation that grew up online and outside its ideological frame. "The outreach feels transactional rather than transformative," said Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme. "It's ultimately directed at staving off unrest and protests, while the hardline elite's fear of losing control outweighs any concern about losing the young."
As a result, Iran remains locked in a politics of repression rather than renewal, with many young Iranians defying aspects of state controls amid deteriorating economic conditions and rampant inflation. Gen Z youth are leading the charge, pushing for change in a country where corruption and mismanagement have left many reeling.
The appointment of Pezeshkian's adviser has exposed deep divisions within Iran's establishment, with hardline factions opposing any efforts to loosen social freedoms. The government has faced criticism for its handling of issues such as mandatory hijab laws, which have penalized women with prison time, being lashed or paying fines if the state determines their attire is improper.
In a bid to placate young Iranians, Pezeshkian's administration has announced that it will not enforce certain controls on social freedoms. However, hardline factions within the establishment have mobilised to reintroduce as many restrictions as possible. The government has also failed to honour other campaign promises, such as lifting draconian state bans on global social media and tens of thousands of websites.
The dynamic of loosening and tightening of social freedoms by the state to manage society is no longer working, partly due to changes taking place in society and also because of dire economic conditions and multiple ongoing crises reshaping daily life. As one expert noted, "Pragmatists within the state are just offering their own frustration, which is of zero value, and at best pointing out that they won't enforce laws that the majority of the country opposes."
The Iranian government's efforts to connect with younger generations have hit a snag following a month-long battle with Israel that left Iran's leadership scrambling to placate restless youth.
President Masoud Pezeshkian recently unveiled an " adviser" - Amirreza Ahmadi - as part of his administration's plan to improve social freedoms and lift sanctions, sparking hopes among young Iranians who have been driving change across Asia and globally. However, the move has been met with criticism from users who claim that Ahmadi does not truly represent Gen Z Iranians, and accused him of using bots to boost his online presence.
Critics argue that Pezeshkian's administration is struggling to speak the language of a generation that grew up online and outside its ideological frame. "The outreach feels transactional rather than transformative," said Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme. "It's ultimately directed at staving off unrest and protests, while the hardline elite's fear of losing control outweighs any concern about losing the young."
As a result, Iran remains locked in a politics of repression rather than renewal, with many young Iranians defying aspects of state controls amid deteriorating economic conditions and rampant inflation. Gen Z youth are leading the charge, pushing for change in a country where corruption and mismanagement have left many reeling.
The appointment of Pezeshkian's adviser has exposed deep divisions within Iran's establishment, with hardline factions opposing any efforts to loosen social freedoms. The government has faced criticism for its handling of issues such as mandatory hijab laws, which have penalized women with prison time, being lashed or paying fines if the state determines their attire is improper.
In a bid to placate young Iranians, Pezeshkian's administration has announced that it will not enforce certain controls on social freedoms. However, hardline factions within the establishment have mobilised to reintroduce as many restrictions as possible. The government has also failed to honour other campaign promises, such as lifting draconian state bans on global social media and tens of thousands of websites.
The dynamic of loosening and tightening of social freedoms by the state to manage society is no longer working, partly due to changes taking place in society and also because of dire economic conditions and multiple ongoing crises reshaping daily life. As one expert noted, "Pragmatists within the state are just offering their own frustration, which is of zero value, and at best pointing out that they won't enforce laws that the majority of the country opposes."
. I feel like the government's trying to use social media to connect with them, but it just feels like a PR stunt 
. If they really want to understand Gen Z, they need to listen to what we have to say and not just try to manipulate public opinion. It's like, Amirreza Ahmadi might look cool online, but does he actually get what's going on in the streets? 
. It's not about modesty or decency, it's about freedom and equality. If they really want to engage with young Iranians, they need to take a step back and listen to our concerns. The fact that they're just going through the motions and trying to placate us without making any real changes is just frustrating 
.
. If the government wants to connect with us, they need to be willing to listen to our ideas and work together to create positive change. Until then, it's just going to feel like more of the same old rhetoric 
. Like, sure Amirreza Ahmadi might have an online presence, but does he really get what's going on in Iran? I don't think so 
. The fact that Pezeshkian's administration is struggling to speak the language of a generation that grew up online just shows they're out of touch 
.
Like, it's all well and good to say you're going to loosen controls on social freedoms, but at the end of the day, the hardline factions are still pushing for more restrictions. It's like they're playing a game of "let's tighten our grip on society" 
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i mean whats the point of loosening up if the state is just gonna tighten up again 
anyway, gen z iranians are doing their own thing 
and we should be supporting that not getting caught up in this whole politics drama 
like what's up with Pezeshkian trying to connect w/ Gen Z and Amirreza Ahmadi being like a total fake 
. They're all, "We're gonna loosen social freedoms and lift sanctions" but really they're just trying 2 placate restless youth and maintain control 
. Like, can't they just listen 2 what the people want 4 once? 
... it's all just so messed up
. They're not afraid 2 speak out against corruption and mismanagement 
. But at the same time, I'm worried about the state's ability 2 handle these changes 
. Fingers crossed for a better future 
.
meanwhile young iranians r leading the charge & pushing for change 
Now it's all about appeasing the establishment and maintaining control. It's like they think young people are just bots that can be programmed to shut up. No thanks! 
It feels like they're trying to pacify the youth with empty promises and tokens instead of actually making real changes. And let's not forget, there are still women being imprisoned for not wearing the hijab... that's just messed up 
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. and btw, mandatory hijab laws r still on the table? like wut is this 2020 or something?