The generation of today is way different from how the earlier generations used to be. While the Traditionalists were dutiful employees who suffered during the two World Wars and the Great Depression, the Baby Boomers or ‘children of prosperity’ grew up in a period of economic stability and higher living standards. These were followed by Generation X who were resourceful and independent people growing up in the era of personal computers and Generation Y who were the first ‘instant’ generation exposed to terrorist attacks and the cons of technology. The Generation Y cohort is also referred to as Millennials or the Internet generation. After them came the Gen Z people born between 1997- 2010. The main concerns of this digital generation centered around climate anxiety and shifting financial landscapes. Then came my generation- Gen Alpha.
As a Generation Alpha child born in 2012, I can confirm that I do not have faith in my generation. You may be wondering why. The truth is, Generation Alpha is not associated with many good things. My generation has been wrecked by many factors, from over-exposure to technology to absurd clothing culture and extreme academic deficiency. Because of these three things, I strongly believe that my generation, Gen Alpha, is doomed for the future.
Technology Over-Exposure
Starting off, I’d like to talk about gadgets and virtual platforms. I’m sure that you’re aware of the fact that kids and teenagers of the present are addicted to technology. While our previous generation adapted itself to technology, we were just born in a world surrounded by gadgets. However, the truth is iPads, phones and laptops cannot always be used for good. Apps such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram can have strong influence on the minds of kids, making them addictive. Many creators present online tend to use this to their advantage, creating entertaining yet silly content that somehow captures the attention of Gen Alpha children.
I think that certain popular programs such as Cocomelon and Skibidi Toilet are a COMPLETE waste of time. They do not deserve the amount of views that they receive. After all, what good are these programs doing to young kids? To top it up, scams and cyber-frauds also tend to rule the world of technology, making my generation vulnerable to unforeseen threats. Despite realizing these warning signs, technology usage for Gen Alpha is becoming as frequent as breathing, hence, there is no doubt that they are doomed!
Preposterous Clothing Culture
Moreover, Gen Alpha kids are practicing some preposterous clothing culture. An exposure to social media allows kids and teenagers of Gen Alpha to see what clothing styles are trending. The truth is, many children of Gen Alpha believe that their main purpose of life is to impress others. To achieve their goals, Gen Alpha tends to alter their clothing styles based on what is trending on social media. All this, just so that others can appreciate them for their looks. I strongly believe that this is ridiculous.
As a kid, I tended to wear unicorn-themed clothing everywhere I went and I took pride in it. I did not let others influence the way I dressed. Afterall, I was not glued to the social media for trends and validation. Now, almost every time I step outside my door, I come across small children wearing crop tops and thick layers of makeup. You ask them why and they will show you some silly trends going online. Because of this, I am extremely worried about how these kids of Gen Alpha will handle themselves in the future.
Academic Deficiency
In addition to all this, I would also like to talk about how my generation is not doing very well in school. According to www.explodingtopics.com, 67% of fourth graders today aren’t proficient in reading. Isn’t it shocking? More than two-thirds of my generation’s fourth graders lack basic reading skills! No wonder I have absolutely ZERO faith in Generation Alpha. To add to my worry, Spartanscoop.org states that during 2022, there was a drop of nine marks in the average numeracy score from the previous year. This shows distinctly the disconcerting effect that social media is having on Gen Alpha. It is pretty much clear that technology is taking a toll on our learning and decreasing our attention span. Thus, I have this strange intuition that Gen Alpha is destined to fail at some point in their lives.
To sum it all up, Generation Alpha seems doomed for the future. This is due to several factors that have become the new ‘normal’ in the 21st century. Although it may seem like Gen Alpha has no hope, I would most certainly want to see their problems fixed. In order to restore a proper state of mind, I believe, we must make some time away from our loyal gadgets. Taking a friendly walk, digging out our personality and picking up a worthwhile book regularly will save us from our impending doom.
The sooner we do it, the better it will be. Otherwise, the day is not far when technology and gadgets will morph us into mechanical beings, pushing us towards a future that will be scary, appalling and catastrophic.
Writer : Harman
Grade : 8 (Year 2025)
Place : Sydney, Australia
