A shortcut will cut you short: PM Modi's message to reel-loving Gen Z
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a message for India’s Gen Z: In an age of reels, influencers and instant gratification, beware of shortcuts. Drawing upon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a message for India’s Gen Z: In an age of reels, influencers and instant gratification, beware of shortcuts. Drawing upon a familiar warning displayed at railway stations, PM Modi urged young people to choose the longer, more meaningful path. He recalled how some people cross railway tracks rather than use footbridges because they see it as a quicker route. Read Full Story The warning painted at such crossings, he remarked, captures a larger lesson. "A shortcut will cut you short," he said, advising youngsters to be wary of "influencers who often draw you in various directions".
The Prime Minister made the remarks at the launch of former President Ram Nath Kovind’s autobiography, Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles, in Delhi on Wednesday. His appeal to young Indians comes amid a push to connect with a generation that is chronically online. "If you do wish to find a way forward, I would tell the youth: definitely read the autobiography of whoever you admire," PM Modi said. PM'S DIGITAL OUTREACH TO GEN Z The remarks are the latest instance of the Prime Minister’s outreach to Gen Z following last month’s student protests spearheaded by the satirical platform Cockroach Janta Party.
His social media strategy has increasingly leaned into the language and formats popular among younger users. PM Modi has begun posting more selfie-style videos. He has greeted viewers with an informal "Hi, friends", used viral phrases such as "first in my bloodline" and advocated the GRWM (Get Ready With Me) format to showcase traditional Indian textiles on social media. The shift followed nationwide protests by students and job seekers over the NEET-UG paper leak. The demonstrations grew into a major political challenge for the government and ultimately led to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
The BJP and its parent organisation, the RSS, have also stepped up their youth outreach. Ministers and government departments have increasingly turned to short-form videos. In fact, the Ministry of External Affairs made its debut on Snapchat last week. At a Cabinet meeting after the protests, PM Modi urged ministers to become more active on platforms popular with young people and ensure their videos appeared less polished and more relatable. Ends
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