The next generation of "iPad kids".
Watch out Gen Zs, Gen Alpha is taking over. They have burst onto social media with eccentric new trends, too new and profound for us Gen Zs to comprehend.
According to Britannica, Gen Alpha consists of individuals born between 2010 to 2025. Besides new lingo and the ‘skibidi toilet’ chronicles which have befuddled many, Gen Alpha has also emerged with their own set of issues: due to their early exposure to devices, they are very prone to being chronically online–having their whole existence revolve around Internet culture due to large amounts of time spent on the Internet.
Concerningly, there has been a trend of parents proudly proclaiming themselves as ‘iPad parents’ on TikTok -- they chuck their devices to their Gen Alpha children to pacify them, giving their developing minds free reign in navigating such an addictive platform. How is this something to be proud of?
Developmental concerns of being an iPad baby
Even though it's a behemoth task after a long day of work to spend more time with your children other than providing them the bare necessities like meals and bringing them to school, parents should prioritize engaging with their hyperactive children offline rather than relying on iPads and other devices to keep them quiet -- conversing and playing with them.
According to Erikson’s stages of development theory, children start taking initiative in activities and decision-making between the ages of 3 and 6 years old, which is the age many Gen Alphas are at right now. Permissive iPad parenting may limit opportunities for creative play and social interaction, impacting initiative development and hindering healthy relationship formation.
Growing up too early, falling prey to un-age appropriate capitalistic trends
Gen Alpha may be growing up faster with early access to social media and trend influences. Online businesses are having a field day with exponential sales of trending items as Gen Alpha are incredibly easy to influence with 10 second videos.
This is seen in their obsession with makeup routines and the fashion trends and skipping the ‘awkward tween era’. It’s now the norm seeing 10 year olds parading around in trendy clothes a 20 year old would wear.
Parents must be actively involved in monitoring and limiting their children’s screen time and instilling critical thinking skills when it comes to trends. For example: active questioning, do they really need anti-ageing retinol as a kid? Is it reasonable to buy such an expensive item when there are cheaper brands? And knowing how to draw the line at purchasing their children’s wish list items.
Generation Alpha and The Battle Against Dwindling Attention Spans
Generation Alpha's reliance on now ubiquitous AI-generated tools for homework completion risks undermining their critical thinking skills. They may also fail to learn to spell without autocorrect if parents leave them to their own devices (literally) and they become more exposed to Gen Alpha lingo than language syntax in proper books.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has guidelines on screen time for children, with pediatricians suggesting that excessive screen time can lead to attention problems, sleep disturbances, and lower academic performance.
Conclusion - Cultivating Entrepreneurial Spirit in the Digital Renaissance
Despite these challenges, let’s not forget the unique strengths of Gen Alpha amidst being raised in a digital age -- an entrepreneurial spirit due to openness.
It is imperative for parents to shoulder the responsibility of nurturing them, striking a balance to ensure they benefit from the new technological era without being overwhelmed by its negativity.