A short video went viral on Iranian social media after young girls struggled to name the former and current leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, demonstrating the youth’s apathy and disentanglement from the regime.
The clip was taken from a reportedly state-commissioned documentary that aimed to demonstrate the so-called corrupting effects of an alleged cultural invasion in Iran and rally those who care about revolutionary values.
However, it seemed to have done the exact opposite, as images of teenagers giggling as they fail to identify Iran’s leaders underscored the idea that the Islamic Republic is dying and may not survive Iran’s newer generations.
The documentary also showcased the profound disconnect between the Islamic Republic and Iran’s youth, which stood in contrast to the previous generations who showed veneration and fear towards the regime and its leaders.
The video was also briefly discussed in an Iran International article under its Inside Tehran section, which features voices and views from contributors living inside Iran.
In the article, the contributor talked about the video and its connection to broader Iranian youth, including the contributor’s niece, who, like the teenage girls featured in the documentary, showed little care towards the Islamic Republic and its leaders.
The contributor also contrasted the experiences of today’s generation with those of their generation, showing how different things were in Iran then and now.
“For those of us who grew up in the early years of the Islamic Republic, the contrast is striking. Not only did we know—and fear—our rulers, but we chanted and prayed for their health every morning at school,“ the contributor said.
“We were steeped in propaganda, with little exposure to the outside world. The state broadcaster was the only show in town. Today, most homes have satellite TV, even though it’s illegal. And most teenagers are on social media, even though many platforms are filtered,“ they added.
These stark differences manifested themselves not only in the private but also in the public sphere, where most of Iran’s youth cared little about politics and more about their personal freedoms and rights.
“Unlike my generation, who believed in change through the ballot box, whose priority was politics and the collective, my niece’s generation is concerned with the individual: my hair, my rights, my aspirations,“ the contributor wrote.
“The apathy with politics and the focus on self runs deeper and broader than the teenage folk, of course. But theirs is more natural, unforced—organic perhaps. And our generation can take some credit for that,“ they added.
