With conventional safe havens out of reach and communication networks under heavy surveillance or blocked entirely, Iran’s Generation Z are carving out new refuges in the digital world, Al Jazeera notes.

“Forums have become lifelines, serving as makeshift shelters, therapy rooms, and organising hubs.”

Momo*, a 24-year-old IT engineering student in Tehran, has been a Discord user for seven years. “It’s the only place where I can breathe,” Momo says. “In the middle of the bombings, we watched movies and TV series together. Sometimes, we even fall asleep online.”

Discord was blocked in Iran in April 2024, with some suspecting that the government shut it down due to its use as a platform to organise protests, although Iran’s judiciary officially cited concerns over indecent content, Al Jazeera adds. But the ban hasn’t stopped Gen Z from finding their way back to the app.

Meanwhile, a WhatsApp group created initially for prenatal yoga in Tehran has become an unexpected hub of resilience. Its members — pregnant women who were unable to flee the capital — now share breathing techniques, emergency tips, and voice messages during blackout periods.

*Due to the sensitive nature of this story, names have been changed to protect the people involved

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