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Gen-Z for Change

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Gen-Z for Change
NicknameGen-Z X el Cambio
FormationOctober 2020; 4 years ago (October 2020)
FounderAidan Kohn-Murphy
TypeNonprofit
87-2835389
Legal statusNon-profit advocacy organization; 501(c)(4)
Location
MethodsSocial media, Digital Organizing, Activism
Membership
500+
Acting Executive Director
Elise Joshi
Staff15–20
Websitehttps://genzforchange.org/
Formerly called
TikTok for Biden, Gen-Z por el Cambio

Gen-Z for Change, formerly called TikTok for Biden, (Spanish: Gen-Z X el Cambio, formerly Gen-Z por el Cambio) is an American non-profit advocacy organization, founded in 2020 that uses social media to promote civil discourse and civil action among members of Generation Z. It consists of a core team of 15–20 people and a coalition of over 500 content creators and activists, and partners with influencers, activists and celebrities to produce multimedia content. Its advocacy addresses a wide range of topics such as abortion rights, COVID-19, student debt cancellation, climate change, income inequality, social inequality, immigration, racial justice, gun control, foreign policy, voting rights, and LGBTQ issues. Collectively, Gen-Z for Change's members have 540 million followers and receive 1.5 billion monthly views on social media.[1][2]

Gen-Z for Change has received significant news coverage for its activities, including a one-hour briefing with the White House for 30 prominent TikTok content creators about the United States’ strategic goals regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine (which was parodied by Saturday Night Live),[3][4] protests against companies such as Starbucks and Kroger for anti-union firings,[5] and abortion-rights advocacy following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Olivia Julianna, one of Gen-Z for Change's political strategists, raised more than $2 million in donations to abortion funds across the country through the organization after U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz ridiculed her appearance in July 2022.[6][7]

History

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The organization's account on TikTok was created in October 2020 under the name TikTok for Biden, to support Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election in the United States.[8] The organization was renamed Gen-Z for Change in January 2021.[9]

In early March 2022, the presidency of Joe Biden enlisted Gen-Z for Change to help organize a briefing between senior administration officials and prominent social media influencers about the Russo-Ukrainian War.[9] The briefing was leaked to The Washington Post, which later inspired a sketch on NBC's comedy show Saturday Night Live.[10][11] Prior to that, Gen-Z for Change partnered with the White House and United States Department of Health and Human Services to combat COVID-19 misinformation and promote vaccination efforts.[12] Although the organization has regularly criticized the Biden administration, some have worried about their close ties to each other.[9]

In late 2023, Gen-Z por el Cambio was established as a section dedicated to Latino and Latin American perspectives on issues like immigration.[13] It is now called Gen-Z X el Cambio.

In March 2024, Gen-Z for Change, with organizations like March for Our Lives, Sunrise Movement, and United We Dream Action, submitted a petition to Biden regarding U.S. democracy, climate change, and immigration.[14] The organization refused to endorse Biden's re-election campaign, with Executive Director Elise Joshi citing his support of the fossil fuel economy, mishandling of the pandemic, support for Israel during the Gaza war,[15] and crackdown on immigration. However, 2 hours after Biden withdrew on July 21, it endorsed Kamala Harris's imminent campaign.[16]

Members and associates

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Current

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Former

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  • Cooper Schneider

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gen-Z for Change - About Us". February 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Latu, Dan (November 10, 2021). "They started making TikToks for Joe Biden. Now Gen Z For Change wants to wield real political clout". The Daily Dot. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (March 11, 2022). "The White House is briefing TikTok stars about the war in Ukraine". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (March 13, 2022). "On 'S.N.L.,' President Biden Seeks Help From TikTok Influencers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Harrington, Caitlin. "A TikTok Army Is Coming for Union Busters". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Latifi, Fortesa (August 3, 2022). "Olivia Julianna on Gen Z for Change, Fundraising Off Matt Gaetz, and Texas Politics". Teen Vogue. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Jones, Dustin (July 28, 2022). "A Texas teen raises over $700,000 for abortions after Rep. Matt Gaetz mocked her". NPR. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "200+ TikTokers Team Up on 'TikTok for Biden' Account". PAPER. October 9, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Ward, Ian (March 27, 2022). "Inside the Progressive Movement's TikTok Army". POLITICO. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  10. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (March 11, 2022). "The White House is briefing TikTok stars about the war in Ukraine". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  11. ^ Andrews, Travis (March 13, 2022). "SNL imagines the Biden administration's meeting with TikTok stars for help with Ukraine effort". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Teen social media stars in uphill battle against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation". ABC News. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Gomez, Guisell (October 13, 2023). "Are You Looking for 'Chisme,' Educational Content, and Everything In Between? Latino TikToker Tony Vara Has Got You Covered". BELatina.
  14. ^ Pequeño, Sarah (March 6, 2024). "If Biden ignores Gen Z during his State of the Union address, that would be a mistake". USA Today.
  15. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (June 20, 2024). "Gen Z influencers who supported Biden in 2020 turn against him". Washington Post. p. A13. ISSN 0190-8286. ProQuest 3069694539.
  16. ^ Huynh, Anjali (July 24, 2024). "Project coconut' and being 'brat': How some young voters are responding to Kamala Harris". Boston Globe. ISSN 0743-1791. ProQuest 3084055300.
  17. ^ Martínez Yañez, Jordi Alonso (August 23, 2024). "Los influencers latinos que tuvieron voz durante la Convención Demócrata (y qué dijeron sobre el voto)". El País US (in Spanish). ProQuest 3096615088.
  18. ^ @genzforchange (September 12, 2023). "Olivia Julianna is not associated with Gen-Z for Change" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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