India’s Gen Z Cockroach Movement Was a Joke — Until It Wasn’t

A social media movement in India began as satire but gained traction among Gen Z users. The movement, which used cockroach imagery and references, spread across platforms including Instagram and TikTok starting in 2025. Participants posted content critical of government policies on specific issues including environmental regulation and economic policy. The movement accumulated millions of posts and engagements, prompting response from Indian political figures and media outlets.

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