Dear reader, what is your fondest childhood memory? It could be cartwheeling on grassy grounds or exploring new species of butterflies in the woods. Even if you belong to Generation Z, you may have experienced at least a semi-traditional childhood.
The past two decades have undoubtedly been integral from the viewpoint of the internet boom. Today, we have an entire generation that is being criticized for growing up too fast.
Ironically, if one were to take a closer look, poor contemporary kids barely grow up. After all, there was a time when even a 12-year-old would have been considered a ‘near-young man or woman.’
The same is being told of Generation Alpha or those born between 2010 and 2024. The only problem is it is for all the wrong reasons. In this article, we will delve deeper into a modern crisis of sorts.
Notwithstanding the displeasure we show, the truth is that it is no cakewalk to be a part of the newest generation. Keep reading to understand the dilemma of being born in Generation Alpha.
Over-Maturity Among Tweens: The Gen Alpha Identity Crisis
If you have not come across at least one reel or video where a 12 or 13-year-old is acting twice their age, you’re living under a rock. Back in the day when millennial and Gen-Z mothers were donning their toddlers in mini skirts and graphic t-shirts, the situation was bad enough.
Today, social media platforms have led our tweens to mature too fast to their own peril. The seemingly loving term “iPad children” does not seem so innocent right now. Statistics prove that America’s newest generation is hooked on social media platforms.
Studies have discovered that Gen Alpha’s online habits are solidifying as 65% of those aged 8 to 10 years spend four hours a day on social media. Children as young as four years old are also jumping onto this bandwagon.
As little eyes feed on constantly evolving trends, it’s natural to undergo an identity crisis. It is no coincidence that young tweens and kids are walking in and out of Sephora with Stanley cups in their hands and faces full of makeup. Some are even creating video content on their makeup collection or tutorials. At an age where these should be out in the sun, chasing dragonflies and dreams, this is what it has all come to.
That being said and done, can we really blame the children? Recently, a mother was slammed for dressing up her 2-year-old daughter like a grown-up and publishing clips of her ‘fashion-forward moments’ on TikTok.
The mom was dressing her child in crop tops, leather skirts, and designer handbags with the caption, “Flyest Puerto Rican toddler.” Despite receiving much backlash, she continues to post her daughter’s clips asking the ‘haters’ to stop following. This is only one incident among thousands of others where the roots of Gen Alpha’s behavior and identity crisis lie exposed.
An Entire Generation Being Raised by Technology
Do you remember a time when, if a child misbehaved in a restaurant or public place, they were disciplined by their parents? Baby Boomers believed in imparting firm instructions on acceptable behavior or taking the child out for a few minutes to manage their emotions.
This is not the case anymore. Those of Generation Alpha are conveniently offered an iPad or smartphone to hold their peace. The child reverts to happily scrolling across social media apps while the adults breathe a sigh of relief. We understand that life has become more stressful than ever.
Most American households have both parents working outside the home. Amid the chaos of daily life, it can be difficult to pay attention to the children. The way such ‘gentle’ parenting is turning out, it still begs the question of whether a stressful lifestyle justifies neglecting children. With some exceptions, millennials and Gen-Z are providing their children greater access to technology.
Being digital natives, Gen Alpha knows how to navigate the world of the internet better than its predecessors. 26% of them live in homes where even virtual reality (VR) is easily accessible. This is precisely why the newest generation’s involvement in online gaming is on the rise.
They are the greatest gaming enthusiasts with 58% converting from players to payers. With little to no parental control at times, the children become vulnerable to all sorts of things floating around on the internet. Did we just say anything about a generation being raised by technology? That is such an understatement.
The Childhood Pipeline Gets Shorter and Shorter
The older Gen-Z is perhaps the only group to have experienced a childhood without social media. Even these were introduced to apps like Omegle and Wattpad in their pre-teen or teenage years. At the time, the scope of such platforms was quite limited. Users could create profiles, share what’s on their minds, and get one-on-one texts or video chats.
Today, a plethora of such platforms have infiltrated Gen Alpha’s childhood. Even Gen-Z may complain that they had to grow up sooner than they’d like. Even then, the pipeline is much accelerated for the succeeding generation. Most have created their accounts across apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.
Those as young as age 10 are given a smartphone, so this should be no surprise. What is deeply concerning is the fact that the issues faced by Gen-Z in their late teens have become the norm among Gen-Alpha kids. Let’s talk about Snapchat, an app with a high level of engagement due to features like filters and streaks.
As per the Child Rescue Coalition, this app has a variety of dangerous features too, including disappearing messages and Snap Map geolocation. The latter also makes inappropriate content easily accessible, with explicit pictures being shared. TorHoerman Law states that excessive use of the platform can lead to addiction, self-harm, anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and more.
Such injuries are not simply in pen and paper. They are extremely prevalent as parents of affected teens and tweens have reported via the Snapchat lawsuit. The app can have disastrous consequences on those aged 14 and under because these are formative years of life. This is exactly why another major scare is how Gen-Alpha will turn out to be as adults when isolation and impersonal communication have become normal.
A Plea for Parents to Step Up and Take Charge
Since Generation Z is the one with the closest experience with smartphones and social media in their teen years, they are most aware of the consequences. Having suffered the aforementioned injuries themselves, many have decided to put a stop.
In other words, many have surrendered their smartphones in lieu of old-school flip phones. Unlikely as an accessory as it might be, the Zoomers are placing peace over popularity. This sparks some hope for the upcoming Gen-Alpha. It is indeed a need of the hour for young parents to take charge and save their children’s lives. Listed below are some ways this can happen –
- Do not offer children smartphones or iPads at the age of 10. Let them enjoy their childhood and tween years.
- Once they do have technology at their disposal, limit screen time.
- Be a role model and encourage other activities like playing in the park, flying kites, or participating in a board game.
- Pay close attention to what your child is doing when the phone is in their hand.
- Set boundaries that meal times and in-person gatherings would be device-free.
- Fix a dedicated reading period to expand your child’s imagination.
We hope that this article has served as food for thought and an insight into the lives of the youngest generation. From what we’ve discussed, being born a Gen-Alpha is certainly rife with unique challenges. Around 2.5 million of them are born worldwide every week.
Brands are trying their best to grow alongside this generation that is said to be growing too fast. However, parents cannot afford to take that approach. The opposite is true when our children’s childhood is being taken away from them.
It will only give rise to a generation that has grown old too soon but never fully grown up. Let’s cast our votes in favor of Gen-Alpha’s future.
