Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Modi’s Instagram Reel Sparks Meme Frenzy Among Gen Z
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to talk to young people on Instagram by posting a selfie‑video on July 23.
The video was meant to calm students who were upset about exam problems.
Instead, the video was mocked and turned into funny memes by Gen Z users.
It got over 300 million views, but the jokes showed that Modi’s style didn’t match how young people use Instagram.
The incident shows that the ruling party’s old ways of using text on WhatsApp and X don’t work on Instagram, where short videos and humor matter more.
Modi posted a selfie‑video on Instagram on July 23 to address student protests over exam leaks.
The reel broke 300 million views in 24 hours but was largely mocked and turned into memes by Gen Z users.
The BJP’s traditional text‑based social media strategy failed to resonate on Instagram’s short‑form, algorithm‑driven platform.
Gen Z mobilised protests via Instagram, using visual hooks, irony, and private group chats, bypassing the BJP’s top‑down broadcast model.
The incident highlights a digital divide: older platforms like WhatsApp and X still serve BJP, while Instagram dominates youth engagement.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Gen Z students, Bharatiya Janata Party
- What
- Modi posted a selfie‑video on Instagram to address student protests, which became a viral meme
- When
- July 23, 2024
- Where
- India, primarily Delhi and other cities where protests occurred
- Why
- Students demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over exam glitches; Modi attempted to quell anger via social media
- Prime Minister
- Narendra Modi
- Platform
- Views
- 300 million in 24 hours
- Protesters
- Gen Z students
- Issue
- Exam glitches and paper leaks