From Phones to Protests: Gen Z Takes a Stand

Story by Khloe Jones. Photo courtesy of Foreign Policy.

Teens and Gen Zers across the U.S. are honestly just tired of being kept in the dark about things that directly affect our futures. That’s why so many of us have started getting more politically active. Not because someone told us to, but because we’re done pretending everything is fine. In the last few years, and still today, we’ve been showing up at protests, doing walkouts, and using social media to spread information. A big example was the pro‑Palestinian protests in 2023–2024, when students demanded that schools be more transparent about their ties to the conflict in Gaza. We organized through Instagram, TikTok, group chats and whatever worked to make sure our voices were heard in our schools and communities. We’re not waiting until we’re older to care. We care now.

Let's talk about what we, as teenagers and Gen Zers feel, want, and have opinions on. First, many teens feel ignored by adults and government leaders when decisions are made—like voting for the U.S. President. In response, teens have used social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X to help teens organize protests quickly.  And student walkouts as well as demonstrations have increased in years.

In September of  2025, students from several universities in Washington, D.C. staged walkouts to protest the presence of federal police on their campuses. It wasn’t just one school. The demonstrations were coordinated across multiple campuses, showing how connected and organized students have become. At the same time, teens everywhere are speaking up about issues that hit close to home—like climate change, school safety, gun violence, and mental health. Some schools are supportive and see student activism as a positive thing, but others are worried about safety concerns and the amount of class time students miss during protests.

Not all teens agree on the same political issues, even if protests may be small or large depending on the location. Some activism happens after school or on the weekends. A few adults believe teens should focus more on school, but we believe we need to be part of this because it affects our future. 

Khloe Jones is a Junior at Friendship Collegiate Academy.