Generation Alpha
Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) is the first full generation born entirely in the 21 century. It consists of individuals born between 2010 and 2025. Compared to other generations, tech usage started early in life, and since then, they have grown up with smartphones and tablets as a source of entertainment. According to Insider Intelligence, Gen Alpha is known to be the most “digitally native” generation yet, and due to the amount of time Gen Alpha spends looking at a screen, they have unflatteringly been given the label “IPad Kids.”
Technology
Born in a time with rapid technological advancement, many of the youngest of Generation Alpha have been given screens to sit in front of instead of a pacifier. Those born during the COVID-19 pandemic had to spend much of their childhood at home, and as a result, spent even more time on screens. Due to so much exposure to media, research is showing that many Gen Alpha kids feel the need to become like the people they see pop up on their screens. This type of thinking leads to a lot of tweens believing that they need to have the latest product just because everyone else has it or that they need to look like the people they see on social media.
Social media effect
The social media effect has led to the “10-year-olds at Sephora” situation. Young kids want to use skin-care products made for adults, like hyaluronic acid or retinol on their unblemished faces because they see their favorite influencer do it in a video. A lot of media suggests that Gen Alpha has also begun to fall behind academically. According to The Toronto Star, “some Millennials and Gen Zers are accusing their own generation of raising ‘iPad children,’ laying the blame for slumping early literacy rates on social media and technology.”
Solution?
There is not just one culprit to blame, but moderation is necessary when it comes to screen time. It’s also important to remember that just because people are doing something online doesn’t mean that we need to do it as well.
