Ah … the “good old days.” The days in question? Going outside for fresh air and kicking a ball around aimlessly for hours, of course. Maybe even waving around foam swords while concocting a multitude of imaginary scenarios involving dragons and princesses. Roll your eyes at this bout of nostalgia if you want, but with the rise of Generation Alpha and what has come to characterize their childhood, it seems that the stories our parents (or grandparents) have passed down may not seem so bad after all.
Generation Alpha, or the current youngest generation of children born between 2010 and 2024, asserts itself to be bolder, sprinkled with a touch of stubborn defiance. Armed with a poor attention span that one could believe rivals houseflies, the children of our latest generation have presented a puzzling problem. Some assert they lack respect, are violent or abusive, and fall behind in school. And of course, riddled with overconsumption, reflected in their strict adherence to fleeting online trends and tastes.
There is definitely something peculiar going on when we see TikTok influencers aged 13 or below uploading morning routines without autonomy over their earnings or bodies. While I do recall fawning over “makeup” kits of candy gloss and sweet shadows as a child in the early aughts, today’s “Sephora Kids” take it one step further to overrun popular beauty shops for highly advanced formulas, ill–suited for their already plump—and sensitive—skin. Add the children who suffer from separation anxiety when it comes to putting down their devices (yes, multiple) for a singular meal and we just might have to address the—Drunk—elephant in the room.
So, what’s the real deal with Generation Alpha? Many believe that the issue arose from one thing that uniquely characterizes the Gen Alpha environment: a heavy reliance on technology. Not only are children being handed access to the Internet at a critically developmental age, but they are also growing up lacking proper social interaction as a consequence. “iPad kids” are known for their lack of emotional regulation, which stems from the desperate cycle of giving a crying child a phone instead of a lollipop (the lesser of two evils?).
This reliance can oftentimes translate into struggles inside the classroom. An inability to focus coupled with poor disciplinary and literacy marks hint at a troubling, broader issue. Gen Alpha in schools are difficult to control and engage, with their deviant behavior sometimes directly inflicting traumatic experiences onto teachers—who are turning to social media platforms to share their struggles.
From illegible handwriting to disregarding school lessons as “yap,” this strange situation leaves many unable to find adequate solutions due to pure shock and confusion.
On another note, social media use has surged among Gen Alpha, and this nearly unrestricted access to what online communities have to offer can skew their perception of many things. For one, it can instill early unrealistic standards for beauty and belongings, leading to self–image issues. The pressure to conform and achieve these illusory goals should not be the aim for children, but unfortunately, that’s what has come to define this double tap, save, and share generation that also navigates high levels of depression and anxiety as a result.
Additionally, parenting plays a larger role than expected with the unique approach Millennials have taken to the scene of child upbringing. Gentle parenting—a style that involves more collaboration between parents and their children in a method devoid of shame or harsh punishment—can also lead to permissive parenting that is overly lenient. Combined with outspoken and unruly children, gentle parenting can pose a significant dilemma as parents and teachers alike are dismissed and disrespected. It appears that much of the problem stems from the possibility that strategies we find alluring on the surface may actually underperform in action.
But, it’s critical to see that all of the above begs another question: Is Gen Alpha the issue, or are our existing institutions outdated? Generation Alpha contrastingly may serve as a hopeful beacon in a turbulent world that demands conformity or passivity. During a time when change must be observed to address novel, pressing concerns, their characteristic behavior may actually be a sign of something better to come. Not to mention, it doesn’t help that older generations tend to consistently put themselves on a higher pedestal, often due to memory bias that makes the defining traits of their generation seem better than their successors.
So, how about we start thinking of the stories we’ll pass down to our future generations—do choruses of Skibidi toilet and other brain rot humor phrases pale in comparison to fort–building and toy superheroes? Is Generation Alpha, ultimately, a poster child for the dangers of technological reliance or are they simply misunderstood? Only time will tell.
