It’s 9 a.m., First things first: hop on Roblox and scream, “Skibidi Toilet” at the top of your lungs while blasting Brazilian phonk. As time slips away, you don’t have a care in the world. You’ve heard through the grapevine that you’re what some refer to as a “mini-millennial”—also known as Gen Alpha.
Gen Alpha kids are at the center of many conversations. Whether you think they’re out of control and our future is doomed, or you’re just concerned about their poor literacy and social skills, or maybe you believe it’s all just a phase, either way, it’s important to understand this new generation, the unique culture they’re building in real time, its effects. Now, you might be wondering: what even is Gen Alpha and why should we care?
What is Gen Alpha?
Gen Alpha refers to those born from 2010 to 2024. This incoming generation was named using the Greek alphabet to symbolize “the start of something new, not a return to the old” (Iberdrola, n.d.). To our understanding, Mark McCrindle thoughtfully selected this title to reflect the reality of a generation born entirely in the 21st century, a generation shaped by the digital era.
Technology has taken Gen Alpha under its wing, providing access to vast amounts of information and support in areas like education, communication, and information processing. As time moves forward, technology evolves with it and so do the numbers of this rising generation.With all these advancements, they seem to have everything they need to succeed so surely, there’s nothing to worry about… right?
Technology and Its Setbacks
Many educational establishments, as well as educators, have shared through platforms such as TikTok—the go-to platform of today’s generation, their concern for Gen Alpha and their lack of educational development.
“I teach 7th grade, and they are still performing at a 4th-grade level,” says QBSkii, a middle school educator.
Other educators around the globe claim that their students don’t even know how to spell their names at the age of 11.
So, why is that? As we’ve heard repeatedly, Gen Alpha’s world revolves around technology, and with it, an unhealthy co-dependency has formed. The facts are unwavering. Gen Alpha’s overuse of technology puts their fundamental educational development at serious risk.
A 2024 tri-state study (Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio) surveyed 139 middle school teachers on their Gen Alpha students. Teachers described them as digitally fluent and adaptable; however, they also scored poorly in attention span, basic math and spelling, social development, and academic motivation.
In relation to academic challenges, Gen Alpha kids are showing signs of deficient literacy skills, such as difficulties in reading and writing, skills essential for their long-term development. Simultaneously, a negative behavioral shift has emerged. Increased screen time has made them more prone to behavioral issues: rudeness, entitlement, and a belief that rules or consequences don’t apply.
Other symptoms, including ADHD, depression, and anxiety, have become more common, making it increasingly difficult for these students to concentrate, ultimately leading to educational setbacks. If this pattern continues, schools may face a shrinking, frustrated teaching workforce and an increasingly unmanageable student body.
Maybe it is that dang phone…
It All Starts at Home
Now that we’ve explored the effects of growing up with constant access to technology, we need to take a closer look at where those habits begin, and while Gen Alphas might seem a little wild at times, the call might be coming from inside the house.
Parents
Millennial parents and others in today’s generation are often labeled as “lazy” when it comes to discipline. However, there’s a bigger picture to consider. The system itself plays a significant role in this conversation. For many working- and lower-class families, packed schedules and constant responsibilities mean there’s less quality time with children and less control over what they consume. Regardless of income, most parents return home exhausted after long workdays. The quickest solution? A phone, an iPad, or some form of screen to keep the kids occupied, because, realistically, parenting can be overwhelming.
As technology advances and economic stress intensifies, parents of all backgrounds are facing similar struggles. Still, some argue that there must be a level of accountability when it comes to how parents regulate their children’s behavior and exposure.
Big Siblings, Bigger Influence: Gen Z’s Impact on Gen Alpha
According to Common Sense Media, kids aged 8 to 12 spend an average of 5 hours and 33 minutes a day on screens, that number keeps rising. Drenched in Media, Gen Alpha spends hours consuming what many call “brainrot”—an endless loop of short,repetitive, and often meaningless videos that keeps them scrolling without thinking.
With every new generation, a new culture forms. Along with that comes new vocabulary and internet slang. Words and phrases like “gyatt,” “Fanum tax,” or “Dame un grr” are popular among the youth today. To an outsider, these might sound random or pointless, but to Gen Alpha, they’re part of everyday conversation.
Behind most of this slang is the real trendsetting generation: Gen Z. On platforms like TikTok, Gen Z has created a fast-moving world where new phrases, jokes, and ideas go viral every month. Gen Alpha isn’t far behind, they pick up on these trends quickly and make them part of their own culture. This pattern isn’t new. Every generation borrows from the one before. What’s different now is how fast everything spreads. Gen Alpha may not be creating most of the content, but they’re watching, sharing, and repeating it, shaping their culture around what’s already been handed to them.
In conclusion, Gen Alpha’s culture is deeply connected to Gen Z’s, almost like a remix of what came before. They live in a world where trends move fast, slang changes weekly, and media shapes how they think and speak. Understanding where these patterns come from helps us see the bigger picture: Gen Alpha isn’t lost, they’re just growing up in a time that’s changing faster than ever.
