Generation Alpha, the youngest generation which includes those born from 2013 to now, is already stirring up large amounts of controversy despite their young age. The majority have yet to graduate middle school, but are most infamously known for their inability to read and write. Being the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century, they are growing up in an era marked by technological advancements and social media which many argue contribute to a lower sense of work ethic. This generation has led to both praise and criticism regarding the potential future of our world.
One of the main points of debate revolves around the heavy inclusion of technology in their lives. From a very young age, Generation Alpha has been exposed to smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices, often before they can even walk or talk. While this early exposure can lead to an impressive level of tech-savviness, it also raises concerns about screen time and social skills. Excessive screen time can lead to attention span issues.
As someone with two younger brothers in this generation, it is extremely clear that we lived two very different childhoods. Looking back on my experiences as a kid, spending most of my time outside with my neighbors, a majority of my memories do not even compare to theirs. This new generation has lost their childhood as they spend so much time on screens and not enough time outside. The term “ipad kid” has stemmed from this generation and their inability to put down their devices and play. Parents should be monitoring their kids when they are on their devices to make sure they’re being safe and not spending too much time online, however, most parents overlook this.
Another controversial aspect of Generation Alpha is their education level. While people say their low literacy is due to the pandemic, and their inability to meet face to face while learning basic phonics, I believe that by now students should have caught up, but they haven’t. Gen alphas will continue to lag behind their milestones which could have major impacts on our future. Spending too much time on screens can lead to reduced attention spans and less time spent on important developmental activities like reading and writing. This can impact their ability to develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and other important skills. Constant exposure to social media has already proven to distract students from academics which many note also have an impact in the classroom.
So while we do not know what the future holds for this generation, we know not everything has to be bad. It is without a doubt that Generation Alpha will excel at working with technology which can lead to so many innovations in itself.
