GenZ212: When Protest Flirts with Ideological Influence

Over the months, the GenZ212 collective, born from a sincere desire for a fairer and more equitable society, seems to have drifted away from its civic foundations. This movement, once intended to embody the voice of an engaged youth, has gradually veered into spheres where the line between social advocacy and political manipulation has become blurred. Its discussion spaces, particularly on Discord, now host debates where the most radical voices often drown out constructive dialogue.

This shift is not insignificant. As the collective has opened up to participants outside Morocco, including figures critical of national institutions, doubt has crept in. Some see it as a simple broadening of the debate; others interpret it as an ideological takeover or even as the influence of currents hostile to the Kingdom’s institutional stability. This blurring of intentions raises a troubling question: does the collective still stand for social justice, or has it become an echo chamber for other agendas?

The danger is amplified by the deceptive anonymity of the virtual world. Behind pseudonyms, it becomes difficult to distinguish the sincere activist from the seasoned manipulator. Legitimate protest risks dissolving into a nihilistic discourse, where everything is questioned—not to rebuild, but to deconstruct without offering alternatives. Such a drift undermines the movement’s credibility and diverts Moroccan youth from their civic potential into a space of disillusionment and ideological confusion.

This phenomenon also exposes a lack of political and moral guidance. In the absence of institutional reference points and structured dialogue platforms, many young people retreat into online communities that provide the illusion of freedom but where speech can be steered or manipulated. The lack of a clear mediation between youth and institutions leaves room for imported narratives, often disconnected from Morocco’s realities and history.

Morocco needs a critical youth, not a captured one. It needs open debates, not arenas where sincere activism blurs with external influence. For GenZ212 to regain its legitimacy, it must return to its founding promise: a civic movement rooted in reality, driven by dignity and responsibility, and free from the ideological diversions and manipulations that now tarnish its image.